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 Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In July, North Dakota lost 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.2 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 2.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, North Dakota’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in North Dakota fell by 1,194, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,401.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 69.2 percent in July from 69.5 percent and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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North Dakota

Payroll employment

• North Dakota lost 1,000 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 200 jobs. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. North Dakota is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota lost 800 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, North Dakota added 100 jobs. North Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. North Dakota ranks 45th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,000) and Manufacturing (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-400).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,400) and State and Local Government (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,200) and Professional and Business Services (-500).

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 69.2 percent in July from 69.5 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.