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.
Kentucky
Employment snapshot
In August, Kentucky added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kentucky lost 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Kentucky’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,700 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Kentucky rose by 6,005, and over the past 12 months it fell by 10,065.
Kentucky’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.8 percent in August from 57.7 percent and is tied for 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
Kentucky
Payroll employment
Kentucky added 200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,000 jobs. Kentucky 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. Kentucky is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kentucky added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,700 jobs. Kentucky 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. Kentucky 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 Construction (+1,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-900).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,400) and Federal Government (-2,600).
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 rose to 57.8 percent in August from 57.7 percent in the prior month.
Kentucky is tied for 45th 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.