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.

Oklahoma

Employment snapshot

• In August, Oklahoma added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 12,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma ranks 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Oklahoma’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 12,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Oklahoma rose by 954, and over the past 12 months it fell by 40,384.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.9 percent in August 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 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,900 jobs. Oklahoma 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. Oklahoma ranks 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma added 500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,500 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 15th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,300) and State and Local Government (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-600) and Manufacturing (-600).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+10,200) and State and Local Government (+4,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,500) and Manufacturing (-1,100).

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 August.

• 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.