August 2026
Released September 18, 2026
Download the full PDF for Indiana
Download the summary PDF for Indiana
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.
Indiana
Employment snapshot
In August, Indiana added 10,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Indiana lost 600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Indiana lost 16,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Indiana ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Indiana’s private sector added 4,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Indiana fell by 2,012, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,672.
Indiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 63 percent in August from 63.1 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Indiana
Payroll employment
Indiana added 10,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Indiana lost 600 jobs. Indiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Indiana ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Indiana added 4,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Indiana remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Indiana 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 State and Local Government (+6,400) and Manufacturing (+3,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,400) and Financial Activities (-1,000).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+6,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,500).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-18,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-13,600).
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 percent in August from 63.1 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.