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.
Missouri
Employment snapshot
In August, Missouri added 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Missouri added 6,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 34,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Missouri is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Missouri’s private sector added 2,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 36,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri added 6,900 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Missouri rose by 3,740, and over the past 12 months it rose by 17,086.
Missouri’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.3 percent in August and ranks 17th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Missouri
Payroll employment
Missouri added 2,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Missouri added 6,800 jobs. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Missouri is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Missouri added 2,400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Missouri added 6,900 jobs. Missouri private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Missouri 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 Construction (+2,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,000) and Information (-700).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+9,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,200) and Manufacturing (-500).
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 August.
Missouri ranks 17th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent in August 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.