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.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In September, Maine added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Maine remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Maine’s private sector added 2,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine added 300 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Maine fell by 1,314, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,962.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.5 percent in September from 58.6 percent and is tied for 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maine remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Maine is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine added 2,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maine added 300 jobs. Maine 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. Maine is tied for 34th 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 (+1,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-400) and Other Services (-300).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,600) and Financial Activities (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500).

Maine

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 Maine fell to 58.5 percent in September from 58.6 percent in the prior month.

• Maine is tied for 41st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 63.7 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 58.2 percent occurring in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.