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.
Iowa
Employment snapshot
In August, Iowa added 2,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Iowa lost 2,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Iowa’s private sector added 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa lost 1,900 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Iowa fell by 2,622, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,505.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 67 percent in August from 67.1 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Iowa
Payroll employment
Iowa added 2,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Iowa lost 2,800 jobs. Iowa 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. Iowa is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa added 1,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Iowa lost 1,900 jobs. Iowa 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. Iowa is tied for 39th 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 Manufacturing (+1,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+6,000) and Construction (+3,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,200) and Professional and Business Services (-2,500).
Iowa
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 Iowa fell to 67 percent in August from 67.1 percent in the prior month.
Iowa ranks 4th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.2 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.