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.

Utah

Employment snapshot

• In August, Utah added 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Utah added 18,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Utah ranks 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Utah’s private sector added 2,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 22,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Utah rose by 4,486, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,736.

• Utah’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 66.3 percent in August and ranks 8th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.5 percentage points.

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Utah

Payroll employment

• Utah added 3,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Utah added 400 jobs. Utah nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Utah ranks 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Utah added 2,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Utah added 1,200 jobs. Utah private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Utah is tied for 5th 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 State and Local Government (+1,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Information (-400) and Financial Activities (-300).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+7,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,000) and Information (-1,700).

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 remained unchanged at 66.3 percent in August.

• Utah ranks 8th 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 61.6 percent in August.