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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In August, Washington lost 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 8,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 15,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, Washington’s private sector lost 1,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 26,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 8,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in Washington rose by 709, and over the past 12 months it fell by 19,700.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 62 percent in August from 62.1 percent and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington lost 2,000 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Washington added 8,100 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 1,300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Washington added 8,700 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 15th 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 Other Services (+1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-3,600) and State and Local Government (-700).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,800) and Manufacturing (+6,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,500) and State and Local Government (-5,300).

Washington

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 Washington fell to 62 percent in August from 62.1 percent in the prior month.

• Washington is tied for 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 65.9 percent in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2026.

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