September 2026
Released October 20, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Delaware
Employment snapshot
In September, Delaware lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points from 5.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Delaware’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 500 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Delaware fell by 365, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,718.
Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.8 percent in September from 57.9 percent and is tied for 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2 percentage points.
Delaware
Payroll employment
Delaware lost 800 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Delaware added 800 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Delaware lost 300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Delaware added 500 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Delaware ranks 30th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2026 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500) and Manufacturing (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-600) and State and Local Government (-400).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,500) and Professional and Business Services (+1,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,100) and Manufacturing (-800).
Delaware
Labor force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Delaware fell to 57.8 percent in September from 57.9 percent in the prior month.
Delaware is tied for 45th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.2 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 57.8 percent in September 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.