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.
Nebraska
Employment snapshot
In August, Nebraska added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska added 400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Nebraska added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Nebraska’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska added 600 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Nebraska fell by 579, and over the past 12 months it fell by 5,124.
Nebraska’s labor force participation rate fell to 69.3 percent in August from 69.4 percent and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Nebraska
Payroll employment
Nebraska added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Nebraska added 400 jobs. Nebraska 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. Nebraska is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Nebraska added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Nebraska added 600 jobs. Nebraska 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. Nebraska is tied for 31st 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 (+1,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-200) and Manufacturing (-200).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+4,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-5,000) and Financial Activities (-1,400).
Nebraska
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 Nebraska fell to 69.3 percent in August from 69.4 percent in the prior month.
Nebraska ranks 2nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 69.1 percent occurring in November 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.