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.

Kentucky

Employment snapshot

• In September, Kentucky lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Kentucky lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Kentucky’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 1,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Kentucky rose by 6,721, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,464.

• Kentucky’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.9 percent in September from 57.8 percent and ranks 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Kentucky

Payroll employment

• Kentucky lost 800 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 1,500 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Kentucky lost 800 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Kentucky lost 1,300 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Kentucky is tied for 41st 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+2,000) and Other Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-900) and Private Education and Health Services (-600).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+4,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,300) and Federal Government (-2,500).

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 57.9 percent in September from 57.8 percent in the prior month.

• Kentucky ranks 44th 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 61.8 percent in September.