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.

Georgia

Employment snapshot

• In August, Georgia added 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Georgia lost 9,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Georgia lost 7,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Georgia is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Georgia’s private sector added 3,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Georgia lost 6,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Georgia rose by 13,013, and over the past 12 months it rose by 76,272.

• Georgia’s labor force participation rate rose to 61 percent in August from 60.9 percent and ranks 35th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Georgia

Payroll employment

• Georgia added 8,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Georgia lost 9,000 jobs. Georgia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Georgia is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Georgia added 3,800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Georgia lost 6,600 jobs. Georgia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Georgia is tied for 42nd 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 State and Local Government (+4,400) and Professional and Business Services (+3,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Information (-1,000) and Manufacturing (-500).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+19,000) and State and Local Government (+7,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-9,400) and Professional and Business Services (-7,700).

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 percent in August from 60.9 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 61.6 percent in August.