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.

Oregon

Employment snapshot

• In August, Oregon lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Oregon lost 1,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon lost 16,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 5.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Oregon ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Oregon’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 9,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Oregon rose by 4,786, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,814.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.5 percent in August from 62.4 percent and ranks 23rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Oregon

Payroll employment

• Oregon lost 800 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oregon lost 1,800 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Oregon ranks 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon lost 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Oregon lost 1,500 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Oregon ranks 48th 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 (+700) and Manufacturing (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,100) and Financial Activities (-400).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+8,200) and Construction (+1,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-5,400) and Manufacturing (-4,800).

Oregon

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 Oregon rose to 62.5 percent in August from 62.4 percent in the prior month.

• Oregon ranks 23rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 63 percent occurring in July 2025, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.