Total nonfarm payroll employment, United States
Total nonfarm payroll employment was 159.0 million in September 2026, up 0.0% from August 2026 and up 0.3% from a year earlier. The figure is published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in Employment Situation (CES). The series starts in January 2006 and has 249 observations. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- On the previous reading (August 2026): up 0.0%, to 159.0 million
- On a year earlier (September 2025): up 0.3%
- Against the five-year average of 156.2 million: above
Sparklines: the last ten years; the amber dot marks the reading in the tile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
Overview
Over the last five years the series ranged from 147.8 million (September 2021) to 159.0 million (September 2026). Since January 2006 the full range is 129.7 million (February 2010) to 159.0 million (September 2026).
Key facts
| Reading | Period | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | September 2026 | 159.0 million |
| Previous | August 2026 | 159.0 million |
| A year earlier | September 2025 | 158.5 million |
| Five-year high | September 2026 | 159.0 million |
| Five-year low | September 2021 | 147.8 million |
| First observation | January 2006 | 135.4 million |
Unit: persons. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
How has it moved since January 2006?
Full history
- Total nonfarm payroll employment 159m
Last five years
- Total nonfarm payroll employment 159m
Latest readings
| Period | Value | Change from previous |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 158.5 million | +0.0% |
| October 2025 | 158.4 million | -0.1% |
| November 2025 | 158.4 million | +0.0% |
| December 2025 | 158.4 million | 0.0% |
| January 2026 | 158.6 million | +0.1% |
| February 2026 | 158.4 million | -0.1% |
| March 2026 | 158.7 million | +0.1% |
| April 2026 | 158.8 million | +0.1% |
| May 2026 | 158.9 million | +0.0% |
| June 2026 | 158.9 million | +0.0% |
| July 2026 | 158.9 million | 0.0% |
| August 2026 | 159.0 million | +0.1% |
| September 2026 | 159.0 million | +0.0% |
How does the latest reading compare?
The latest reading of 159.0 million in September 2026 is above its five-year average of 156.2 million and above its ten-year average of 151.5 million. It is higher than 100% of all 249 readings since January 2006. It has risen for 2 readings in a row up to September 2026. Over the last 12 readings, from October 2025 to September 2026, it averaged 158.7 million, with a high of 159.0 million in September 2026 and a low of 158.4 million in October 2025. In the last ten years the largest rise from one reading to the next was in June 2020, to 137.7 million from 133.0 million in May 2020, and the largest fall was in April 2020, to 130.4 million from 150.9 million in March 2020.
Among the last 9 complete years, the average was highest in 2025, at 158.4 million, and lowest in 2020, at 142.2 million.
Year by year
| Year | Average | Low | High | Last reading | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 158.8 million | 158.4 million | 159.0 million | 159.0 million September 2026 | 9 |
| 2025 | 158.4 million | 158.3 million | 158.5 million | 158.4 million December 2025 | 12 |
| 2024 | 157.7 million | 157.0 million | 158.3 million | 158.3 million December 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 155.9 million | 154.8 million | 156.9 million | 156.9 million December 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | 152.5 million | 150.0 million | 154.3 million | 154.3 million December 2022 | 12 |
| 2021 | 146.3 million | 142.9 million | 149.8 million | 149.8 million December 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | 142.2 million | 130.4 million | 152.3 million | 142.5 million December 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 150.9 million | 150.1 million | 151.8 million | 151.8 million December 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | 148.9 million | 147.7 million | 149.8 million | 149.8 million December 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 146.6 million | 145.6 million | 147.5 million | 147.5 million December 2017 | 12 |
Averages, lows and highs are calculated by EconoMonitor from the published readings. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
How is it measured?
Total nonfarm payroll employment, seasonally adjusted (published in thousands; stored as persons).
Total nonfarm payroll employment is published monthly by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Employment Situation (CES) release. It is measured in persons and is seasonally adjusted. EconoMonitor holds all 249 readings since January 2006 under the publisher's code CES0000000001, keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them, and compares each release with the downloaded file before it is shown.
- Frequency: monthly; seasonal adjustment: SA.
- Unit: persons.
- Release: Employment Situation (CES), published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Source series code: CES0000000001.
- Methodology: how EconoMonitor stores and checks this series.
Questions and sources
What is the latest reading of Total nonfarm payroll employment?
159.0 million in September 2026, as published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How often is it updated?
Monthly, with each Employment Situation (CES) release. EconoMonitor reloads the series after each release and keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them.
Where can I check it?
At the publisher: Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API v1, series code CES0000000001.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS. Checks for this release: Check A passed, Check B passed.
Data and analysis only, not financial advice. Data publishers do not endorse EconoMonitor. See the disclaimer and methodology.