How many jobs were lost in North Dakota last month?
Refreshed monthly
North Dakota lost 1,000 jobs in July 2026, ranking it 36th 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 460 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-1K
month to month change in number of jobs (July 2026)
36th
rank among states in monthly job growth (July 2026)
July 2026’s loss of 1,000 jobs was the 4th consecutive month of negative job growth in North Dakota. Monthly job growth was down from the 200 lost jobs in June 2026.
During the latest five year period (August 2021 to July 2026), North Dakota gained jobs in 37 out of 60 months. July 2026 had the sixth-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 1,000 fewer jobs in July 2026 in North Dakota than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, August 2021–July 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which North Dakota sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in July 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in July 2026 were health care and social assistance, arts, entertainment, and recreation, and state government. Health care and social assistance added 900 jobs, more than the entire economy. Arts, entertainment, and recreation gained 200 jobs, while state government added 200. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were retail trade, accommodation and food services, and mining and logging. retail trade lost 1,100 jobs in July 2026, while accommodation and food services lost 600 jobs and mining and logging lost 400 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 900 jobs during July 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in North Dakota (July 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 July 2026 ranged from a gain of 0 jobs in the Minot, ND area metro area to a gain of 900 jobs in the Fargo, ND area metro 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. | +900 | |
| 2. | +500 | |
| 3. | +100 | |
| 4. | +0 |
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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.
