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 York
Employment snapshot
In September, New York added 19,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent. In the prior month, New York lost 18,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New York added 18,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 4.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. New York is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, New York’s private sector added 6,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New York lost 10,000 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in New York fell by 781, and over the past 12 months it rose by 15,170.
New York’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.3 percent in September and is tied for 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
New York
Payroll employment
New York added 19,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New York lost 18,700 jobs. New York 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 York is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New York added 6,700 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, New York lost 10,000 jobs. New York private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. New York is tied for 41st 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 State and Local Government (+13,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+6,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-4,200) and Other Services (-1,900).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+28,400) and State and Local Government (+17,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-12,400) and Information (-6,700).
New York
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 York remained unchanged at 61.3 percent in September.
New York is tied for 32nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New York was 61.8 percent occurring in February 2026, and the 10-year low was 56.1 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.