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.

Idaho

Employment snapshot

• In August, Idaho added 2,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 7,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

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

• In August, Idaho’s private sector added 2,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Idaho fell by 410, and over the past 12 months it fell by 9,296.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.5 percent in August from 61.6 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 2,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,300 jobs. Idaho 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. Idaho is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho added 2,900 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,200 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 7th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+2,100) and Manufacturing (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,700) and Manufacturing (+2,700).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,400) and Professional and Business Services (-1,400).

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 61.5 percent in August from 61.6 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 61.5 percent in August 2026.

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