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.
New Hampshire
Employment snapshot
In July, New Hampshire added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.8 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 4,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire added 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, New Hampshire’s private sector added 1,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 2,300 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in New Hampshire rose by 278, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,618.
New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate fell to 65 percent in July from 65.1 percent and ranks 12th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
New Hampshire
Payroll employment
New Hampshire added 800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 4,500 jobs. New Hampshire nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Hampshire added 1,300 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 2,300 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 23rd 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 Professional and Business Services (+500) and Manufacturing (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-500) and Other Services (-200).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Construction (-800).
New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire fell to 65 percent in July from 65.1 percent in the prior month.
New Hampshire ranks 12th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Hampshire was 69 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 65 percent in July 2026.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.