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.

Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In August, Virginia added 5,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Virginia lost 7,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia lost 37,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Virginia’s private sector added 7,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 26,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Virginia fell by 2,444, and over the past 12 months it fell by 62,477.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.8 percent in August from 63 percent and ranks 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.2 percentage points.

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Virginia

Payroll employment

• Virginia added 5,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Virginia lost 7,100 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia added 7,700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Virginia lost 500 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Virginia ranks 49th 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 Professional and Business Services (+4,100) and Construction (+2,400).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,800) and Financial Activities (-1,000).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+7,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-19,000) and Professional and Business Services (-14,700).

Virginia

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 Virginia fell to 62.8 percent in August from 63 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia ranks 20th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.1 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 62.8 percent in August 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.