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.
Maryland
Employment snapshot
In September, Maryland lost 8,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Maryland lost 11,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland lost 13,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Maryland ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Maryland’s private sector lost 9,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 6,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland lost 11,300 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Maryland rose by 7,004, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,435.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.7 percent in September and is tied for 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Maryland
Payroll employment
Maryland lost 8,800 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maryland lost 11,300 jobs. Maryland nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Maryland ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland lost 9,000 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Maryland lost 11,300 jobs. Maryland private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Maryland is tied for 46th 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 Manufacturing (+600) and State and Local Government (+200).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,700) and Private Education and Health Services (-3,300).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+6,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+5,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-14,500) and Federal Government (-14,300).
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 remained unchanged at 63.7 percent in September.
Maryland is tied for 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 occurring in August 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.