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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In September, Washington added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 1,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 24,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Washington’s private sector added 3,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 36,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 2,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Washington rose by 6,105, and over the past 12 months it fell by 12,546.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62 percent in September 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 added 4,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Washington added 1,700 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 29,000 in September, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington added 3,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Washington added 2,800 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 46,000 jobs in September, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 12th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+2,200) and Construction (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,100) and Manufacturing (-500).

From September 2025 to September 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+10,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+7,700).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-6,000) and Federal Government (-5,600).

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 remained unchanged at 62 percent in September.

• 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 occurring in August 2026.

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