July 2026 | Released August 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.

Rhode Island

Employment snapshot

• In July, Rhode Island added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island lost 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Rhode Island’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Rhode Island fell by 22, and over the past 12 months it fell by 13,845.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.1 percent in July from 62.3 percent and is tied for 25th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 2 percentage points.

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Rhode Island

Payroll employment

• Rhode Island added 700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 700 jobs. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Rhode Island added 700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 900 jobs. Rhode Island private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 36th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From June 2026 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Other Services (+700) and Construction (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-400) and Private Education and Health Services (-300).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,900) and Other Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300) and Financial Activities (-1,300).

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 fell to 62.1 percent in July from 62.3 percent in the prior month.

• Rhode Island is tied for 25th 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 fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.