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.
Kansas
Employment snapshot
In September, Kansas lost 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Kansas added 1,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kansas added 4,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Kansas is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Kansas’s private sector lost 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kansas added 600 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Kansas fell by 4,002, and over the past 12 months it fell by 29,317.
Kansas’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.4 percent in September from 66.6 percent and ranks 7th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.6 percentage points.
Kansas
Payroll employment
Kansas lost 2,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kansas added 1,100 jobs. Kansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Kansas is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kansas lost 2,300 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kansas added 600 jobs. Kansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Kansas is tied for 28th 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 Professional and Business Services (+700) and Private Education and Health Services (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-1,400) and Financial Activities (-1,000).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+4,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-2,700) and Federal Government (-2,300).
Kansas
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 Kansas fell to 66.4 percent in September from 66.6 percent in the prior month.
Kansas ranks 7th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kansas was 68 percent occurring in August 2025, and the 10-year low was 66.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.