August 2026
Released September 18, 2026
Download the full PDF for Louisiana
Download the summary PDF for Louisiana
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.
Louisiana
Employment snapshot
In August, Louisiana added 5,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 6,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 32,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Louisiana’s private sector added 5,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 31,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 6,200 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Louisiana rose by 846, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,327.
Louisiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.4 percent in August from 58.5 percent and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.
Louisiana
Payroll employment
Louisiana added 5,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Louisiana added 6,300 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Louisiana added 5,600 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Louisiana added 6,200 jobs. Louisiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana ranks 2nd 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-600) and Federal Government (-100).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+17,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,800) 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 58.4 percent in August from 58.5 percent in the prior month.
Louisiana ranks 43rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 59.1 percent occurring in August 2016, and the 10-year low was 55.2 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.