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.
Louisiana
Employment snapshot
In September, Louisiana added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 7,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 36,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Louisiana ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Louisiana’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 35,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 7,500 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Louisiana fell by 1,009, and over the past 12 months it rose by 8,668.
Louisiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.3 percent in September from 58.4 percent and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.
Louisiana
Payroll employment
Louisiana added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Louisiana added 7,400 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Louisiana ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Louisiana added 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Louisiana added 7,500 jobs. Louisiana private sector payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Louisiana ranks 3rd 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 (+700) and Professional and Business Services (+700).
- The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-800) and Financial Activities (-700).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+18,800) and Professional and Business Services (+8,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,300) and Federal Government (-2,000).
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 58.3 percent in September from 58.4 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 in March 2020, 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 61.8 percent in September.