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.
Minnesota
Employment snapshot
In September, Minnesota lost 4,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 36,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Minnesota is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Minnesota’s private sector lost 5,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 33,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 1,300 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Minnesota fell by 3,268, and over the past 12 months it fell by 66,536.
Minnesota’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.7 percent in September from 66.8 percent and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points.
Minnesota
Payroll employment
Minnesota lost 4,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,500 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Minnesota is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Minnesota lost 5,000 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Minnesota added 1,300 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota is tied for 10th 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 (+1,600) and Construction (+1,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-5,700) and Professional and Business Services (-2,100).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (+12,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+11,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-5,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,100).
Minnesota
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 Minnesota fell to 66.7 percent in September from 66.8 percent in the prior month.
Minnesota ranks 5th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 70.9 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 66.7 percent in September 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.