Employment rates, job growth, and labor force statistics.
The July 2026 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows job openings little changed at 7.3 million, with hires and total separations at 5.1 million. Quits remained at 3.1 million and layoffs at 1.7 million, signaling a labor market marked by low turnover and persistent caution. The hires rate fell back to 3.2 percent, underscoring a ‘new normal’ of stagnation.
The U.S. labor force participation rate was 61.4% in July 2026, but state rates range from about 54% in West Virginia to nearly 70% in Utah. Age structure, economic conditions, and demographic differences drive the wide state-by-state variation. This article ranks all 50 states and the District of Columbia and explains the key trends.
In June 2026, the U.S. unemployment rate held at 4.2 percent, with rates lower in 8 states, higher in 2, and stable in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, and Minnesota recorded the largest year-over-year increases, while California, Indiana, Iowa, and Alaska saw declines. This article examines the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics state employment and unemployment data, including rankings, 12-month changes, and the number of unemployed by state.
The U.S. unemployment rate is calculated from the monthly Current Population Survey, a sample of about 60,000 households. It divides the number of unemployed people actively seeking work by the total labor force. The rate excludes people not in the labor force and is not based on unemployment insurance claims.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in July 2026, down from 4.2% in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures the share of the labor force that is actively looking for work but not currently employed. The rate remains near historically low levels after a sharp pandemic spike and gradual cooling.
U.S. employment reached 158.46 million total nonfarm employees in 2025, up 0.48% from 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A separate Census Bureau series reported 137.46 million U.S. employment in 2023. The long-run trend shows strong growth from 29.9 million in 1939, with a sharp pandemic drop in 2020 and a rapid recovery.