August 2026 | Released September 18, 2026
Download the full PDF for Pennsylvania
Download the summary PDF for Pennsylvania
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.
Pennsylvania
Employment snapshot
In August, Pennsylvania added 5,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 7,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 34,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.7 percentage points from 4.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 5,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 38,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 3,600 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Pennsylvania rose by 19,966, and over the past 12 months it rose by 159,063.
Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.6 percent in August from 62.5 percent and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 1.1 percentage points.
Pennsylvania
Payroll employment
Pennsylvania added 5,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 7,800 jobs. Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Pennsylvania added 5,300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 3,600 jobs. Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania is tied for 21st 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Construction (-300) and Manufacturing (-200).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+23,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+12,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-6,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,000).
Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania rose to 62.6 percent in August from 62.5 percent in the prior month.
Pennsylvania is tied for 21st in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.2 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.