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.
Utah
Employment snapshot
In September, Utah added 4,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 5,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Utah added 26,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Utah ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Utah’s private sector added 4,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 28,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah added 4,400 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Utah rose by 6,452, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,449.
Utah’s labor force participation rate rose to 66.5 percent in September from 66.3 percent and ranks 6th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.
Utah
Payroll employment
Utah added 4,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Utah added 5,000 jobs. Utah nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Utah ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Utah added 4,500 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Utah added 4,400 jobs. Utah private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Utah ranks 4th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,500) and Construction (+900).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-400) and Federal Government (+0).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,800) and Professional and Business Services (+6,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,100) and Information (-1,600).
Utah
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 Utah rose to 66.5 percent in September from 66.3 percent in the prior month.
Utah ranks 6th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Utah was 69.2 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 66.3 percent occurring in July 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.