June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 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 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Iowa

Employment snapshot

• In June, Iowa added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Iowa added 2,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Iowa lost 9,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Iowa ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Iowa’s private sector added 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 7,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Iowa fell by 1,697, and over the past 12 months it fell by 39.

• Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.3 percent in June from 67.4 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Iowa

Payroll employment

• Iowa added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Iowa added 2,400 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Iowa ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Iowa added 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Iowa added 1,800 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,500) and Financial Activities (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,000) and Professional and Business Services (-700).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,500) and Construction (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-4,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,500).

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 67.3 percent in June from 67.4 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 fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.