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.

Kentucky

Employment snapshot

• In June, Kentucky added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 3,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Kentucky lost 6,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Kentucky ranks 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Kentucky’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 3,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Kentucky fell by 4,175, and over the past 12 months it fell by 16,775.

• Kentucky’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.5 percent in June and ranks 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

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Kentucky

Payroll employment

• Kentucky added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 3,900 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Kentucky ranks 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Kentucky added 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 3,900 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 42nd 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+2,000) and Other Services (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,300) and Private Education and Health Services (-600).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+3,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-6,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,100).

Kentucky

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 Kentucky remained unchanged at 57.5 percent in June.

• Kentucky ranks 47th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59.1 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 54.7 percent in June 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.