June 2026 | Released July 21, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In June, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 30, rose in 7, and remained unchanged in 14.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.

• In June, payroll jobs rose in 34 states and fell in 17. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Alaska and New Hampshire. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1.2 percent in West Virginia.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In June, Washington lost 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 5,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Washington’s private sector lost 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 4,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Washington fell by 3,901, and over the past 12 months it fell by 14,998.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.3 percent in June from 62.5 percent and is tied for 25th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington lost 2,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Washington added 5,600 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 1,900 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Washington added 4,400 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Washington is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From May 2026 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Financial Activities (+1,000) and Other Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-2,100) and Professional and Business Services (-2,000).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+4,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+3,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,700) and Financial Activities (-2,300).

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 62.3 percent in June from 62.5 percent in the prior month.

• Washington is tied for 25th 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 62.3 percent in June 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 61.5 percent in June.