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.
Montana
Employment snapshot
In August, Montana added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Montana added 600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Montana lost 5,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Montana’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 3,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana added 600 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Montana rose by 482, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,038.
Montana’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.5 percent in August and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.
Montana
Payroll employment
Montana added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Montana added 600 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Montana added 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Montana added 600 jobs. Montana private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Montana ranks 50th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+600) and Construction (+600).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-200).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,500) and Construction (+100).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,400) and Professional and Business Services (-1,100).
Montana
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 Montana remained unchanged at 61.5 percent in August.
Montana is tied for 29th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 61.5 percent occurring in June 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.