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.
Georgia
Employment snapshot
In September, Georgia lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Georgia added 5,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Georgia lost 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Georgia is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Georgia’s private sector lost 4,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Georgia added 2,100 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Georgia rose by 10,279, and over the past 12 months it rose by 80,830.
Georgia’s labor force participation rate rose to 61.1 percent in September from 61 percent and ranks 35th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.
Georgia
Payroll employment
Georgia lost 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Georgia added 5,800 jobs. Georgia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Georgia is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Georgia lost 4,400 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Georgia added 2,100 jobs. Georgia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Georgia is tied for 44th 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 State and Local Government (+4,000) and Manufacturing (+700).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-3,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+17,100) and State and Local Government (+9,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-8,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,700).
Georgia
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 Georgia rose to 61.1 percent in September from 61 percent in the prior month.
Georgia ranks 35th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Georgia was 63.9 percent occurring in June 2017, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent occurring in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.