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.

Idaho

Employment snapshot

• In September, Idaho added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Idaho added 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 8,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Idaho’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Idaho fell by 585, and over the past 12 months it fell by 10,684.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.4 percent in September from 61.5 percent and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points.

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Idaho

Payroll employment

• Idaho added 700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Idaho added 1,500 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho added 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,000 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 6th 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 Financial Activities (+500) and Private Education and Health Services (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-600).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,900) and Manufacturing (+2,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,500) and Professional and Business Services (-1,300).

Idaho

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 Idaho fell to 61.4 percent in September from 61.5 percent in the prior month.

• Idaho is tied for 29th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Idaho was 64.5 percent occurring in July 2019, and the 10-year low was 61.4 percent in September 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.