July 2026
Released August 21, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 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 4.1 percent.
In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.
Louisiana
Employment snapshot
In July, Louisiana added 5,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 26,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Louisiana is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Louisiana’s private sector added 5,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 26,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 200 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Louisiana fell by 3,609, and over the past 12 months it rose by 20,369.
Louisiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.5 percent in July from 58.7 percent and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.
Louisiana
Payroll employment
Louisiana added 5,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Louisiana added 200 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Louisiana is tied for 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Louisiana added 5,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Louisiana added 200 jobs. Louisiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Louisiana ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From June 2026 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,300) and Professional and Business Services (+2,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800) and Financial Activities (-700).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+15,500) and Professional and Business Services (+7,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,100) and Federal Government (-1,800).
Louisiana
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 Louisiana fell to 58.5 percent in July from 58.7 percent in the prior month.
Louisiana ranks 43rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 59.2 percent in July 2016, and the 10-year low was 55.2 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.