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.
North Carolina
Employment snapshot
In September, North Carolina added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.4 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina added 9,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 67,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 3.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, North Carolina’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 63,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina added 8,100 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in North Carolina rose by 4,623, and over the past 12 months it fell by 49,720.
North Carolina’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.8 percent in September and is tied for 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.6 percentage points.
North Carolina
Payroll employment
North Carolina added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, North Carolina added 9,000 jobs. North Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. North Carolina is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
North Carolina added 700 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, North Carolina added 8,100 jobs. North Carolina 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. North Carolina 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 Private Education and Health Services (+3,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,500) and Manufacturing (-1,100).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+25,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+18,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-8,800) and Information (-4,500).
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 remained unchanged at 57.8 percent in September.
North Carolina is tied for 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.