August 2026

Released September 18, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In August, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 28, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in August.

• In August, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 16. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Maryland.

Ohio

Employment snapshot

• In August, Ohio added 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Ohio added 1,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Ohio added 9,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 1.1 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Ohio’s private sector added 1,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 19,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Ohio added 4,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Ohio fell by 5,455, and over the past 12 months it fell by 13,740.

• Ohio’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.3 percent in August from 61.4 percent and is tied for 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 2,100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Ohio added 1,700 jobs. Ohio nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Ohio added 1,700 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Ohio added 4,800 jobs. Ohio private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From July 2026 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+4,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-2,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+17,800) and Manufacturing (+12,500).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-5,300) and Federal Government (-4,600).

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 61.3 percent in August from 61.4 percent in the prior month.

• Ohio is tied for 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.