July 2026 | Released August 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In July, Delaware lost 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Delaware lost 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware lost 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Delaware’s private sector lost 1,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware lost 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Delaware fell by 799, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,837.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.1 percent in July from 58.4 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points.

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Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware lost 1,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Delaware lost 800 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware lost 1,000 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Delaware lost 600 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Delaware is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2026 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+200) and Other Services (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600) and Financial Activities (-300).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,100) and Professional and Business Services (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,200).

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 58.1 percent in July from 58.4 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 44th 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 58.1 percent in July 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.