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.
District of Columbia
Employment snapshot
In July, District of Columbia added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.9 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 2,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 31,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 6.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, District of Columbia’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 2,500 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in District of Columbia fell by 147, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,301.
District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate fell to 70.2 percent in July from 70.3 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.6 percentage points.
District of Columbia
Payroll employment
District of Columbia added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 2,200 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, 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 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 2,500 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. District of Columbia is tied for 49th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500) and Federal Government (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-100) and Other Services (-100).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500) and Financial Activities (+100).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-24,700) and Professional and Business Services (-4,300).
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 70.2 percent in July from 70.3 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 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.