August 2026
Released September 18, 2026
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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.
Maryland
Employment snapshot
In August, Maryland lost 8,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 10,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland lost 5,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Maryland’s private sector lost 8,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 9,600 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Maryland rose by 2,230, and over the past 12 months it fell by 23,857.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.7 percent in August from 63.8 percent and ranks 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Maryland
Payroll employment
Maryland lost 8,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Maryland added 10,200 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland lost 8,200 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Maryland added 9,600 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Maryland ranks 38th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100) and State and Local Government (+600).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-4,200) and Construction (-2,000).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+8,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-15,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-14,500).
Maryland
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 Maryland fell to 63.7 percent in August from 63.8 percent in the prior month.
Maryland ranks 15th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maryland was 69.3 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 63.7 percent in August 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.