June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 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 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

District of Columbia

Employment snapshot

• In June, District of Columbia added 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 6 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 2,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 36,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 6.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, District of Columbia’s private sector added 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 9,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in District of Columbia fell by 654, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,938.

• District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate fell to 70.3 percent in June from 70.5 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points.

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District of Columbia

Payroll employment

• District of Columbia added 2,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 2,200 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• District of Columbia added 2,600 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 2,000 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+700) and Other Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (+0) and Information (+0).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+0) and Manufacturing (-100).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-26,100) and Professional and Business Services (-5,400).

District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia fell to 70.3 percent in June from 70.5 percent in the prior month.

• District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in District of Columbia was 73 percent in January 2024, and the 10-year low was 68 percent in May 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.