September 2026
Released October 20, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.
New Hampshire
Employment snapshot
In September, New Hampshire lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 2.6 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire added 2,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points from 3.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, New Hampshire’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,700 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in New Hampshire rose by 740, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,243.
New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.8 percent in September and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
New Hampshire
Payroll employment
New Hampshire lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,600 jobs. New Hampshire nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Hampshire lost 500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,700 jobs. New Hampshire private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2026 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600) and Construction (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-800) and Financial Activities (-500).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+2,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,600) and Construction (-700).
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 remained unchanged at 64.8 percent in September.
New Hampshire ranks 13th 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 64.8 percent occurring in August 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.