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.

West Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In August, West Virginia lost 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 2,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia lost 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia ranks 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In August, West Virginia’s private sector lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 2,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In August, employment in West Virginia rose by 397, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,057.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 53.8 percent in August and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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West Virginia

Payroll employment

• West Virginia lost 1,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 2,500 jobs. West 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. West Virginia ranks 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia lost 1,500 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 2,300 jobs. West Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 127,000 jobs in August, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 45th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+500) and State and Local Government (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500).

From August 2025 to August 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,700) and State and Local Government (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,000) and Other Services (-1,000).

West 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 West Virginia remained unchanged at 53.8 percent in August.

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.3 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 52.7 percent in April 2020.

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