July 2026 | Released August 21, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In July, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 29, rose in 4, and remained unchanged in 18.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 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 4.1 percent.
In July, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 24. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Maryland. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in New Jersey.
Wisconsin
Employment snapshot
In July, Wisconsin added 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 3,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In July, Wisconsin’s private sector lost 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 4,400 net private payroll jobs.
In July, employment in Wisconsin rose by 6,691, and over the past 12 months it rose by 26,556.
Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.5 percent in July and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.
Wisconsin
Payroll employment
Wisconsin added 1,200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 3,100 jobs. Wisconsin nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July, or 0 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Wisconsin lost 1,900 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 4,400 jobs. Wisconsin private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 30,000 jobs in July, 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 June 2026 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+3,100) and Professional and Business Services (+2,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-2,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,100).
From July 2025 to July 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+7,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+6,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-9,500) and Financial Activities (-3,000).
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 remained unchanged at 64.5 percent in July.
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 0.1 percentage points to 61.4 percent in July.