September 2026 | Released October 20, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Iowa
Employment snapshot
In September, Iowa added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Iowa added 2,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 4,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Iowa’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 1,000 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Iowa fell by 4,104, and over the past 12 months it fell by 14,075.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.9 percent in September from 67 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.
Iowa
Payroll employment
Iowa added 1,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Iowa added 2,200 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa added 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Iowa added 1,000 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2026 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+1,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (+900).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600) and Manufacturing (-400).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+5,200) and Construction (+3,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,400) and Professional and Business Services (-2,000).
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 66.9 percent in September from 67 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 61.8 percent in September.