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.

Florida

Employment snapshot

• In July, Florida added 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Florida added 10,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Florida added 41,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 3.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Florida is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Florida’s private sector added 6,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 54,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida added 12,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Florida fell by 7,793, and over the past 12 months it fell by 41,882.

• Florida’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.5 percent in July from 57.6 percent and ranks 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Florida

Payroll employment

• Florida added 4,500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Florida added 10,600 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Florida is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Florida added 6,800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Florida added 12,600 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Florida is tied for 23rd 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,900) and Construction (+2,900).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,900) and Professional and Business Services (-1,900).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+35,800) and Professional and Business Services (+13,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-13,600) and Federal Government (-7,900).

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 fell to 57.5 percent in July from 57.6 percent in the prior month.

• 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.