How many jobs were lost in North Dakota last month?
Refreshed monthly
North Dakota lost 1,400 jobs in September 2026, ranking it 38th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 468 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-1.4K
month to month change in number of jobs (September 2026)
38th
rank among states in monthly job growth (September 2026)
North Dakota’s job loss of 1,400 in September 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 1,200 gain in August 2026.
During the latest five year period (October 2021 to September 2026), North Dakota gained jobs in 37 out of 60 months. September 2026 had the fourth-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in January 2023 (+3,800) while job growth was weakest in April 2026 (-2,100).
There were 1,400 fewer jobs in September 2026 in North Dakota than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, October 2021–September 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which North Dakota sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in September 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in September 2026 were finance and insurance, health care and social assistance, and administrative and support and waste management and remediation services. Finance and insurance added 200 jobs, more than the entire economy. Health care and social assistance gained 100 jobs, while administrative and support and waste management and remediation services added 100. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were state government, construction, and retail trade. State government lost 500 jobs in September 2026, while construction lost 400 jobs and retail trade lost 300 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 100 jobs during September 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in North Dakota (September 2026)
How has North Dakota's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, North Dakota lost an average of 258 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 383, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 2,100 on average every month in 2015 to a gain of 2,300 on average every month in 2011.
In 2025, North Dakota lost an average of 258 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among four metro areas primarily in North Dakota during September 2026 ranged from a loss of 600 jobs in the Grand Forks, ND area to a gain of 100 jobs in the Fargo, ND area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within North Dakota
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +100 | |
| 2. | -200 | |
| 3. | -400 | |
| 4. | -600 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
