July 2026

Released August 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.

Idaho

Employment snapshot

• In July, Idaho added 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Idaho lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Idaho’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho added 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Idaho fell by 1,007, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,277.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.6 percent in July from 61.8 percent and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.6 percentage points.

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Idaho

Payroll employment

• Idaho added 1,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Idaho lost 100 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho added 400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Idaho added 100 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Idaho is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2026 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+800) and Financial Activities (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-600) and Professional and Business Services (-500).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,700) 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 61.6 percent in July from 61.8 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 61.6 percent in July 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.