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.
Mississippi
Employment snapshot
In July, Mississippi added 3,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 6,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Mississippi is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Mississippi’s private sector added 5,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,200 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Mississippi fell by 2,405, and over the past 12 months it fell by 12,077.
Mississippi’s labor force participation rate fell to 55 percent in July from 55.2 percent and ranks 50th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Mississippi
Payroll employment
Mississippi added 3,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,900 jobs. Mississippi nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Mississippi is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Mississippi added 5,300 private sector jobs, or 0.6 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 1,200 jobs. Mississippi private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Mississippi is tied for 16th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,900) and Construction (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,500) and Professional and Business Services (-400).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,100) and State and Local Government (+2,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,100) and Information (-500).
Mississippi
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 Mississippi fell to 55 percent in July from 55.2 percent in the prior month.
Mississippi ranks 50th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Mississippi was 56.4 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 53 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.