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.

Minnesota

Employment snapshot

• In August, Minnesota added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 1,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 43,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Minnesota’s private sector added 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 37,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Minnesota fell by 3,840, and over the past 12 months it fell by 63,817.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.8 percent in August from 66.9 percent and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.5 percentage points.

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Minnesota

Payroll employment

• Minnesota added 1,500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Minnesota added 1,600 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota added 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Minnesota added 2,500 jobs. Minnesota private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 7th 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 Manufacturing (+2,200) and State and Local Government (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400) and Private Education and Health Services (-800).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+16,800) and Manufacturing (+10,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-5,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,400).

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 66.8 percent in August from 66.9 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 66.8 percent in August 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.