July 2026
Released August 21, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 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 4.1 percent.
In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.
North Carolina
Employment snapshot
In July, North Carolina lost 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 2,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 51,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, North Carolina’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 48,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 2,700 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in North Carolina fell by 21,291, and over the past 12 months it fell by 38,951.
North Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 58 percent in July from 58.3 percent and ranks 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.
North Carolina
Payroll employment
North Carolina lost 700 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 2,300 jobs. North Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
North Carolina lost 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, North Carolina lost 2,700 jobs. North Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 9th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From June 2026 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+6,100) and Construction (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-3,800) and Manufacturing (-1,000).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+19,400) and Construction (+15,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-9,900) and Federal Government (-4,400).
North Carolina
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 North Carolina fell to 58 percent in July from 58.3 percent in the prior month.
North Carolina ranks 45th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Carolina was 61.6 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 56.6 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.