July 2026 | Released August 21, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.
In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.
Massachusetts
Employment snapshot
In July, Massachusetts lost 4,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 6,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Massachusetts added 5,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Massachusetts is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Massachusetts’s private sector lost 3,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 6,700 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Massachusetts fell by 204, and over the past 12 months it fell by 67,821.
Massachusetts’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.3 percent in July and ranks 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.2 percentage points.
Massachusetts
Payroll employment
Massachusetts lost 4,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 6,000 jobs. Massachusetts nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Massachusetts is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Massachusetts lost 3,800 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Massachusetts added 6,700 jobs. Massachusetts private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Massachusetts is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From June 2026 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,900) and Other Services (+1,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,000) and Financial Activities (-2,300).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+12,600) and State and Local Government (+4,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,700) and Financial Activities (-3,700).
Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts remained unchanged at 65.3 percent in July.
Massachusetts ranks 11th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Massachusetts was 67.4 percent occurring in July 2018, and the 10-year low was 61.1 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.