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 Jersey
Employment snapshot
In September, New Jersey added 14,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey added 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 1.3 percentage points from 5.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. New Jersey is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, New Jersey’s private sector added 16,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey added 4,000 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in New Jersey rose by 13,930, and over the past 12 months it rose by 74,462.
New Jersey’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.7 percent in September from 63.6 percent and is tied for 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
New Jersey
Payroll employment
New Jersey added 14,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,200 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. New Jersey is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Jersey added 16,000 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Jersey added 4,000 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. New Jersey is tied for 39th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+7,200) and Professional and Business Services (+7,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,100) and State and Local Government (-1,100).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+30,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-11,200) and Information (-4,500).
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 rose to 63.7 percent in September from 63.6 percent in the prior month.
New Jersey is tied for 15th 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.