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.
Wisconsin
Employment snapshot
In August, Wisconsin added 11,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 3,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin added 19,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In August, Wisconsin’s private sector added 5,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 15,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 600 net private payroll jobs.
In August, employment in Wisconsin rose by 9,315, and over the past 12 months it rose by 36,837.
Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate rose to 64.7 percent in August from 64.5 percent and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.
Wisconsin
Payroll employment
Wisconsin added 11,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 3,800 jobs. Wisconsin nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, or 0.1 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Wisconsin added 5,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 600 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin is tied for 24th 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 State and Local Government (+6,200) and Construction (+2,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400) and Information (-600).
From August 2025 to August 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+10,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-11,200) and Financial Activities (-2,500).
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 64.7 percent in August from 64.5 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 rose by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent in August.