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.

Missouri

Employment snapshot

• In July, Missouri added 8,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Missouri added 7,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 29,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Missouri is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Missouri’s private sector added 6,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 29,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri added 6,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Missouri rose by 2,054, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,994.

• Missouri’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.3 percent in July and is tied for 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Missouri

Payroll employment

• Missouri added 8,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Missouri added 7,200 jobs. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Missouri is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Missouri added 6,900 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Missouri added 6,700 jobs. Missouri private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Missouri ranks 8th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+2,900) and State and Local Government (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-100).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+8,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,200) and Manufacturing (-2,800).

Missouri

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 Missouri remained unchanged at 63.3 percent in July.

• Missouri is tied for 17th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in July 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.