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.
Rhode Island
Employment snapshot
In August, Rhode Island added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.6 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Rhode Island’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Rhode Island rose by 696, and over the past 12 months it fell by 12,555.
Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.1 percent in August and is tied for 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.9 percentage points.
Rhode Island
Payroll employment
Rhode Island added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,400 jobs. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Rhode Island added 600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,400 jobs. Rhode Island private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 31st 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 Professional and Business Services (+400) and Private Education and Health Services (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were Construction (-300) and Financial Activities (-200).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,800) and Manufacturing (+1,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,000) and Financial Activities (-1,400).
Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island remained unchanged at 62.1 percent in August.
Rhode Island is tied for 24th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 64.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.