For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, April 22, 2026 USDL-26-0651
Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 * sminfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- FEBRUARY 2026
Unemployment rates were higher in February in 1 state and stable in 49 states and the District
of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirteen states and the
District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 2 states had decreases, and 35 states
had little change. The national unemployment rate, 4.4 percent, changed little over the month
but was 0.2 percentage point higher than in February 2025.
In February 2026, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 2 states, increased in 1 state, and
was essentially unchanged in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, nonfarm
payroll employment decreased in 2 states and the District, increased in 2 states, and was
essentially unchanged in 46 states.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and
unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to
people by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that
measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on
payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information about the
concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.
Unemployment
Hawaii and South Dakota had the lowest jobless rates in February, 2.3 percent each. The
District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 6.5 percent. The next highest rates
were in California and Delaware, 5.4 percent each. In total, 21 states had unemployment rates
lower than the U.S. figure of 4.4 percent, 6 states and the District had higher rates, and 23
states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A
and 1.)
In February, Florida had the only unemployment rate change (+0.1 percentage point). The
remaining 49 states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that were not notably
different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large
numerically as the significant change. (See table B.)
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from February
2025, the largest of which was in Delaware (+1.1 percentage points). The only over-the-year
rate decreases occurred in Ohio (-0.7 percentage point) and Indiana (-0.5 point). Thirty-five
states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though
some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See
table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
In February 2026, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 2 states, increased in 1 state, and
was essentially unchanged in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Employment decreased in
Illinois (-17,800, or -0.3 percent) and Nebraska (-6,500, or -0.6 percent). Employment
increased in Arizona (+11,000, or +0.3 percent). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 2 states and the District of Columbia,
increased in 2 states, and was essentially unchanged in 46 states. Employment decreased in
Maryland (-52,700, or -1.9 percent), the District (-42,200, or -5.5 percent), and Iowa
(-19,200, or -1.2 percent). The job gains occurred in California (+120,500, or +0.7 percent)
and Nevada (+34,500, or +2.2 percent). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for February is scheduled to
be released on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and
Unemployment news release for March is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at
10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., February 2026, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 4.4
|
Alabama .............................| 2.7
California ..........................| 5.4
Delaware ............................| 5.4
District of Columbia ................| 6.5
Georgia .............................| 3.6
Hawaii ..............................| 2.3
Idaho ...............................| 3.7
Indiana .............................| 3.3
Iowa ................................| 3.4
Maine ...............................| 3.2
|
Mississippi .........................| 3.7
Missouri ............................| 3.9
Montana .............................| 3.6
Nebraska ............................| 3.1
Nevada ..............................| 5.3
New Hampshire .......................| 3.2
New Jersey ..........................| 5.1
North Carolina ......................| 3.8
North Dakota ........................| 2.6
Oregon ..............................| 5.2
|
South Dakota ........................| 2.3
Tennessee ...........................| 3.6
Utah ................................| 3.8
Vermont .............................| 2.6
Virginia ............................| 3.7
Washington ..........................| 5.1
Wisconsin ...........................| 3.4
Wyoming .............................| 3.6
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from January 2026 to February 2026, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | January | February | change(p)
| 2026 | 2026(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida ........................| 4.5 | 4.6 | 0.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from February 2025 to February 2026, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | February | February | change(p)
| 2025 | 2026(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut ....................| 3.7 | 4.7 | 1.0
Delaware .......................| 4.3 | 5.4 | 1.1
District of Columbia ...........| 5.9 | 6.5 | .6
Florida ........................| 3.6 | 4.6 | 1.0
Indiana ........................| 3.8 | 3.3 | -.5
Maryland .......................| 3.6 | 4.3 | .7
Minnesota ......................| 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0
Montana ........................| 3.0 | 3.6 | .6
New Mexico .....................| 4.1 | 4.7 | .6
New York .......................| 4.1 | 4.6 | .5
| | |
Ohio ...........................| 4.9 | 4.2 | -.7
Oklahoma .......................| 3.1 | 3.9 | .8
South Carolina .................| 4.1 | 5.0 | .9
Virginia .......................| 3.2 | 3.7 | .5
Washington .....................| 4.4 | 5.1 | .7
West Virginia ..................| 3.8 | 4.7 | .9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
January 2026 to February 2026, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | January | February |---------------------------
| 2026 | 2026(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ......................| 3,262,300 | 3,273,300 | 11,000 | 0.3
Illinois .....................| 6,155,000 | 6,137,200 | -17,800 | -.3
Nebraska .....................| 1,059,900 | 1,053,400 | -6,500 | -.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
February 2025 to February 2026, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | February | February |---------------------------
| 2025 | 2026(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California ...................| 18,003,900 | 18,124,400 | 120,500 | 0.7
District of Columbia .........| 762,200 | 720,000 | -42,200 | -5.5
Iowa .........................| 1,595,600 | 1,576,400 | -19,200 | -1.2
Maryland .....................| 2,842,100 | 2,789,400 | -52,700 | -1.9
Nevada .......................| 1,570,700 | 1,605,200 | 34,500 | 2.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
