September 2026 | Released October 20, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 18, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In September, payroll jobs rose in 24 states and fell in 25. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Carolina. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Missouri and Wisconsin.
Oregon
Employment snapshot
In September, Oregon added 5,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Oregon lost 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 5.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Oregon’s private sector added 5,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Oregon rose by 7,068, and over the past 12 months it fell by 824.
Oregon’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.6 percent in September from 62.5 percent and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
Oregon
Payroll employment
Oregon added 5,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,600 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Oregon added 5,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,800 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Oregon is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From August 2026 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Information (-400).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+10,900) and Construction (+3,500).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-3,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,300).
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 62.6 percent in September from 62.5 percent in the prior month.
Oregon is tied for 21st 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 61.8 percent in September.