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.

Hawaii

Employment snapshot

• In August, Hawaii added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.7 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Hawaii’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Hawaii rose by 1,415, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,516.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate rose to 61.1 percent in August from 61 percent and ranks 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Hawaii

Payroll employment

• Hawaii added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 300 jobs. Hawaii 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. Hawaii is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii lost 400 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 1,000 jobs. Hawaii 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. Hawaii is tied for 31st 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 (+700) and State and Local Government (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-700) and Private Education and Health Services (-500).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+2,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,600).

Hawaii

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 Hawaii rose to 61.1 percent in August from 61 percent in the prior month.

• Hawaii ranks 34th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent in March 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in September 2020.

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