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 Dakota
Employment snapshot
In September, North Dakota lost 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.2 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 2.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, North Dakota’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in North Dakota fell by 254, and over the past 12 months it fell by 671.
North Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.9 percent in September from 69 percent and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.
North Dakota
Payroll employment
North Dakota lost 1,400 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,200 jobs. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
North Dakota lost 900 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,400 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 31st 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 Financial Activities (+200) and Manufacturing (+100).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,500) and Other Services (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,800) and Federal Government (-700).
North Dakota
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 Dakota fell to 68.9 percent in September from 69 percent in the prior month.
North Dakota ranks 3rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 70.9 percent occurring in April 2017, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in January 2021.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.