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.

Vermont

Employment snapshot

• In September, Vermont added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, Vermont lost 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont lost 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Vermont is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Vermont’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont added 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Vermont fell by 104, and over the past 12 months it fell by 9,145.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.1 percent in September and is tied for 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points.

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Vermont

Payroll employment

• Vermont added 200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Vermont lost 200 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Vermont is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Vermont added 600 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Vermont is tied for 46th 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 State and Local Government (+300) and Private Education and Health Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-100) and Manufacturing (-100).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+700) and Manufacturing (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,200) and Financial Activities (-500).

Vermont

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 Vermont remained unchanged at 62.1 percent in September.

• Vermont is tied for 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.3 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 61.6 percent in January 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.