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.

Ohio

Employment snapshot

• In July, Ohio added 5,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.4 percent. In the prior month, Ohio added 2,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Ohio added 17,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 1.1 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Ohio ranks 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Ohio’s private sector added 9,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 28,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Ohio added 3,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Ohio fell by 5,578, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,444.

• Ohio’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.4 percent in July from 61.6 percent and ranks 32nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Ohio

Payroll employment

• Ohio added 5,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Ohio added 2,800 jobs. Ohio nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Ohio ranks 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Ohio added 9,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Ohio added 3,600 jobs. Ohio private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Ohio is tied for 23rd 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 Manufacturing (+4,900) and Construction (+3,000).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-4,400) and Information (-1,200).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+13,700) and Manufacturing (+13,200).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-6,300) and Federal Government (-5,000).

Ohio

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 Ohio fell to 61.4 percent in July from 61.6 percent in the prior month.

• Ohio ranks 32nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 63.6 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.