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.

Oklahoma

Employment snapshot

• In July, Oklahoma added 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 7,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Oklahoma’s private sector added 1,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Oklahoma fell by 294, and over the past 12 months it fell by 43,528.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.9 percent in July and ranks 28th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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Oklahoma

Payroll employment

• Oklahoma added 1,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 100 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma added 1,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 200 jobs. Oklahoma 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. Oklahoma is tied for 16th 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 Construction (+900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-600) and Other Services (-500).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+8,000) and Construction (+4,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,600) and Professional and Business Services (-2,400).

Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma remained unchanged at 61.9 percent in July.

• Oklahoma ranks 28th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63.3 percent occurring in November 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

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