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.
Illinois
Employment snapshot
In August, Illinois lost 4,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Illinois added 15,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Illinois added 15,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Illinois’s private sector lost 5,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois added 14,600 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Illinois fell by 13,684, and over the past 12 months it fell by 105,207.
Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.1 percent in August from 63.3 percent and ranks 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Illinois
Payroll employment
Illinois lost 4,400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Illinois added 15,300 jobs. Illinois 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. Illinois is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Illinois lost 5,200 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Illinois added 14,600 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 35th 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 (+1,800) and Construction (+1,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-6,100) and Financial Activities (-1,700).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+13,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+9,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-15,800) and Federal Government (-4,100).
Illinois
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 Illinois fell to 63.1 percent in August from 63.3 percent in the prior month.
Illinois ranks 18th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.2 percent in August 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.