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.
Tennessee
Employment snapshot
In August, Tennessee added 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.4 percent. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 3,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 16,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Tennessee’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 12,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 4,400 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Tennessee rose by 231, and over the past 12 months it fell by 46,173.
Tennessee’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.2 percent in August from 59.3 percent and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.
Tennessee
Payroll employment
Tennessee added 1,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 3,000 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Tennessee added 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Tennessee lost 4,400 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 28th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+2,600) and State and Local Government (+1,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,100) and Manufacturing (-1,100).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+8,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+6,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-4,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,800).
Tennessee
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 Tennessee fell to 59.2 percent in August from 59.3 percent in the prior month.
Tennessee ranks 38th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Tennessee was 61.9 percent occurring in April 2019, and the 10-year low was 58.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.