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.
Michigan
Employment snapshot
In September, Michigan lost 6,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan lost 4,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Michigan’s private sector lost 6,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 12,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan lost 5,100 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Michigan fell by 26,291, and over the past 12 months it fell by 173,000.
Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.5 percent in September from 58.8 percent and is tied for 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2.3 percentage points.
Michigan
Payroll employment
Michigan lost 6,300 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Michigan lost 4,600 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Michigan lost 6,700 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Michigan lost 5,100 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Michigan 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 (+700) and Construction (+600).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-3,900) and Other Services (-1,800).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+17,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-7,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,400).
Michigan
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 Michigan fell to 58.5 percent in September from 58.8 percent in the prior month.
Michigan is tied for 41st in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.