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.
Michigan
Employment snapshot
In August, Michigan lost 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 7,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Michigan’s private sector lost 3,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 7,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 6,900 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Michigan fell by 25,062, and over the past 12 months it fell by 153,510.
Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.8 percent in August from 59.1 percent and is tied for 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2.1 percentage points.
Michigan
Payroll employment
Michigan lost 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Michigan added 7,400 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Michigan lost 3,200 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Michigan added 6,900 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Michigan ranks 44th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+2,000) and State and Local Government (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-2,000) and Other Services (-1,300).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+17,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-6,400) and Construction (-4,000).
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 58.8 percent in August from 59.1 percent in the prior month.
Michigan is tied for 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.