September 2026
Released October 20, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Florida
Employment snapshot
In September, Florida added 5,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Florida added 10,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Florida added 59,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Florida is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Florida’s private sector added 7,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 68,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida added 4,900 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Florida rose by 12,746, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,106.
Florida’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.3 percent in September from 57.4 percent and ranks 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.
Florida
Payroll employment
Florida added 5,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Florida added 10,300 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, 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 7,700 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Florida added 4,900 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Florida is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2026 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+8,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+5,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-3,500) and Professional and Business Services (-2,700).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+40,300) and Professional and Business Services (+19,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-15,800) and Federal Government (-7,400).
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 57.3 percent in September from 57.4 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.