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 Mexico

Employment snapshot

• In September, New Mexico lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, New Mexico added 3,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Mexico added 11,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. New Mexico is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, New Mexico’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Mexico added 2,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in New Mexico fell by 1,523, and over the past 12 months it fell by 20,331.

• New Mexico’s labor force participation rate fell to 56.6 percent in September from 56.7 percent and ranks 49th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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New Mexico

Payroll employment

• New Mexico lost 800 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Mexico added 3,200 jobs. New Mexico nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. New Mexico is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Mexico lost 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New Mexico added 2,600 jobs. New Mexico private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. New Mexico is tied for 6th 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 Construction (+1,000) and Other Services (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+3,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,100) and Professional and Business Services (-1,500).

New Mexico

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 Mexico fell to 56.6 percent in September from 56.7 percent in the prior month.

• New Mexico ranks 49th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Mexico was 58.3 percent in September 2016, and the 10-year low was 54.1 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.