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.

Indiana

Employment snapshot

• In July, Indiana lost 4,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Indiana lost 5,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Indiana lost 17,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Indiana ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Indiana’s private sector lost 4,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana lost 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Indiana fell by 691, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,998.

• Indiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.1 percent in July from 63.2 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Indiana

Payroll employment

• Indiana lost 4,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Indiana lost 5,900 jobs. Indiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Indiana ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Indiana lost 4,900 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Indiana lost 1,800 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Indiana is tied for 36th 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 Construction (+1,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-4,000) and Professional and Business Services (-2,700).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+6,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-16,400) and State and Local Government (-15,500).

Indiana

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 Indiana fell to 63.1 percent in July from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• Indiana ranks 19th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Indiana was 65.2 percent in June 2018, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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