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.

Florida

Employment snapshot

• In August, Florida added 21,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Florida lost 3,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Florida added 59,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Florida’s private sector added 16,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 63,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida lost 2,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Florida rose by 6,372, and over the past 12 months it fell by 24,431.

• Florida’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.4 percent in August and ranks 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Florida

Payroll employment

• Florida added 21,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Florida lost 3,000 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Florida added 16,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Florida lost 2,600 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 21st 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 Professional and Business Services (+11,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+10,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,900) and Information (-1,000).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+39,600) and Professional and Business Services (+25,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-14,300) and Federal Government (-7,200).

Florida

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 Florida remained unchanged at 57.4 percent in August.

• Florida ranks 47th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.