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.

Wisconsin

Employment snapshot

• In June, Wisconsin added 2,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 7,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In June, Wisconsin’s private sector added 3,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 4,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In June, employment in Wisconsin rose by 5,999, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,584.

• Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate rose to 64.5 percent in June from 64.4 percent and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Wisconsin

Payroll employment

• Wisconsin added 2,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 7,500 jobs. Wisconsin nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 57,000 in June, or 0 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Wisconsin added 3,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during June. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 4,900 jobs. Wisconsin private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 49,000 jobs in June, or 0 percent. Wisconsin 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 Professional and Business Services (+2,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-2,100) and Financial Activities (-900).

From June 2025 to June 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,300) and Construction (+6,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-11,300) and State and Local Government (-5,400).

Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin rose to 64.5 percent in June from 64.4 percent in the prior month.

• Wisconsin ranks 13th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Wisconsin was 68.2 percent occurring in May 2017, and the 10-year low was 64.1 percent occurring in July 2025.

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