August 2026 | Released September 18, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 28, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in August.
In August, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 16. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Maryland.
District of Columbia
Employment snapshot
In August, District of Columbia lost 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 5.7 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 27,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.8 percentage points from 6.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, District of Columbia’s private sector lost 1,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 6,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 400 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in District of Columbia rose by 1,199, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,529.
District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate rose to 70.3 percent in August from 70.2 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.
District of Columbia
Payroll employment
District of Columbia lost 1,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 400 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
District of Columbia lost 1,700 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 400 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From July 2026 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (+0) and Information (+0).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,000) and Federal Government (-400).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-100).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-21,800) and Professional and Business Services (-4,500).
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 rose to 70.3 percent in August from 70.2 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.