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.

Utah

Employment snapshot

• In July, Utah lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 1,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Utah added 17,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Utah is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In July, Utah’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 21,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In July, employment in Utah rose by 1,753, and over the past 12 months it fell by 15,610.

• Utah’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.3 percent in July from 66.4 percent 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 lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Utah added 1,700 jobs. Utah nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Utah is tied for 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Utah added 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Utah added 1,800 jobs. Utah private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, or 0 percent. Utah is tied for 4th 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 Manufacturing (+600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,400) and Financial Activities (-300).

From July 2025 to July 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+9,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,200) and Information (-1,500).

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 fell to 66.3 percent in July from 66.4 percent in the prior month.

• 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 in July 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.