June 2026
Released July 21, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.
The highest unemployment rate was 6 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 4.2 percent.
In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.
New Jersey
Employment snapshot
In June, New Jersey lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey added 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.9 percentage points from 5.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. New Jersey is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In June, New Jersey’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey added 200 net private payroll jobs.
In June, employment in New Jersey rose by 4,556, and over the past 12 months it rose by 48,279.
New Jersey’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.5 percent in June and is tied for 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
New Jersey
Payroll employment
New Jersey lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,400 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. New Jersey is tied for 32nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Jersey lost 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, New Jersey added 200 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. New Jersey is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From May 2026 to June 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+3,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-3,700).
From June 2025 to June 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+31,000) and Professional and Business Services (+6,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,400) and Manufacturing (-4,600).
New Jersey
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 Jersey remained unchanged at 63.5 percent in June.
New Jersey is tied for 16th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Jersey was 64.7 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 60.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.