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.
Michigan
Employment snapshot
In July, Michigan added 7,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 4,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 8,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Michigan’s private sector added 6,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 1,000 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Michigan fell by 22,663, and over the past 12 months it fell by 135,558.
Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.1 percent in July from 59.5 percent and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2 percentage points.
Michigan
Payroll employment
Michigan added 7,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Michigan added 4,500 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Michigan added 6,900 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Michigan added 1,000 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Michigan is tied for 40th 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 Manufacturing (+3,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,600) and Financial Activities (-600).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+16,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+5,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-5,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,800).
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 59.1 percent in July from 59.5 percent in the prior month.
Michigan ranks 40th 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.