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.
Texas
Employment snapshot
In September, Texas lost 11,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Texas added 8,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Texas added 154,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Texas ranks 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Texas’s private sector lost 5,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 160,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Texas lost 200 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Texas rose by 21,279, and over the past 12 months it fell by 16,936.
Texas’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.2 percent in September and ranks 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Texas
Payroll employment
Texas lost 11,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Texas added 8,700 jobs. Texas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Texas ranks 9th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Texas lost 5,200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Texas lost 200 jobs. Texas 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. Texas is tied for 10th 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 Manufacturing (+4,700) and Professional and Business Services (+1,600).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-6,100) and Private Education and Health Services (-4,800).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+69,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+28,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-9,400) and Information (-8,700).
Texas
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 Texas remained unchanged at 64.2 percent in September.
Texas ranks 14th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Texas was 64.9 percent occurring in June 2024, and the 10-year low was 60.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.