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.
Virginia
Employment snapshot
In September, Virginia added 7,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 8,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Virginia lost 25,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Virginia ranks 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In September, Virginia’s private sector added 7,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 18,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 7,300 net private payroll jobs.
In September, employment in Virginia fell by 3,228, and over the past 12 months it fell by 60,008.
Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.7 percent in September from 62.8 percent and ranks 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.
Virginia
Payroll employment
Virginia added 7,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Virginia added 8,100 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Virginia ranks 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Virginia added 7,000 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Virginia added 7,300 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Virginia ranks 49th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+3,400) and Other Services (+1,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,000) and Financial Activities (-500).
From September 2025 to September 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+10,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+8,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-18,300) and Professional and Business Services (-15,300).
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 62.7 percent in September from 62.8 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 62.7 percent in September 2026.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.8 percent in September.