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.
North Carolina
Employment snapshot
In June, North Carolina added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina added 13,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 62,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In June, North Carolina’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 58,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina added 11,300 net private payroll jobs.
In June, employment in North Carolina fell by 12,684, and over the past 12 months it fell by 14,850.
North Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.3 percent in June from 58.6 percent and ranks 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.
North Carolina
Payroll employment
North Carolina added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, North Carolina added 13,500 jobs. North Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
North Carolina lost 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, North Carolina added 11,300 jobs. North Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 6th 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 Construction (+2,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,100).
From June 2025 to June 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+21,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (+15,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-10,000) and Federal Government (-4,600).
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 58.3 percent in June from 58.6 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 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.