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.

Hawaii

Employment snapshot

• In September, Hawaii remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 2.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Hawaii is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Hawaii’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Hawaii rose by 1,526, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,649.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate rose to 61.3 percent in September from 61.1 percent and is tied for 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Hawaii

Payroll employment

• Hawaii remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 500 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Hawaii is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Hawaii lost 700 jobs. Hawaii 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. Hawaii is tied for 34th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-600) and Manufacturing (-200).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900).

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 61.3 percent in September from 61.1 percent in the prior month.

• Hawaii is tied for 32nd 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 61.8 percent in September.