For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, May 22, 2026 USDL-26-0762
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 -- APRIL 2026
Unemployment rates were lower in April in 3 states, higher in 2 states, and stable in 45
states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Nineteen states had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 6 states had decreases, and
25 states and the District had little change. The national unemployment rate, 4.3 percent,
was unchanged over the month and was little changed from April 2025.
In April 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states and was essentially unchanged
in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment
decreased in 1 state and the District, increased in 1 state, and was essentially unchanged in
48 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
South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in April, 2.2 percent, followed by North Dakota, 2.4
percent. The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 6.2 percent. The next
highest rates were in California, Delaware, and Nevada, 5.3 percent each. In total, 17 states
had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.3 percent, 6 states and the District
had higher rates, and 27 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the
nation. (See tables A and 1.)
In April, 3 states had unemployment rate decreases: Ohio (-0.2 percentage point) and North
Dakota and South Dakota (-0.1 point each). Two states had rate increases: Connecticut (+0.2
percentage point) and Florida (+0.1 point). The remaining 45 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 changes.
(See table B.)
Nineteen states had unemployment rate increases from April 2025, the largest of which were in
Connecticut (+1.2 percentage points) and Florida (+1.1 points). Six states had over-the-year
rate decreases, the largest of which was in Ohio (-0.9 percentage point). Twenty-five states
and the District of Columbia 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 April 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states and was essentially unchanged
in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Florida
(+40,500), North Carolina (+16,000), and Minnesota (+15,900). The largest percentage increases
occurred in New Mexico (+0.6 percent) and Minnesota (+0.5 percent), followed by Colorado,
Florida, and Missouri (+0.4 percent each). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 1 state and the District of Columbia,
increased in 1 state, and was essentially unchanged in 48 states. Employment decreased in the
District (-39,100, or -5.1 percent) and Oregon (-23,600, or -1.2 percent). The only job gain
occurred in Nevada (+30,200, or +1.9 percent). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for April is scheduled to be
released on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and Unemployment
news release for May is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., April 2026, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 4.3
|
Alabama .............................| 2.8
California ..........................| 5.3
Delaware ............................| 5.3
District of Columbia ................| 6.2
Georgia .............................| 3.5
Hawaii ..............................| 2.5
Idaho ...............................| 3.6
Illinois ............................| 5.1
Indiana .............................| 3.2
Iowa ................................| 3.3
|
Maine ...............................| 3.1
Montana .............................| 3.5
Nebraska ............................| 3.0
Nevada ..............................| 5.3
New Hampshire .......................| 3.1
North Carolina ......................| 3.7
North Dakota ........................| 2.4
Oregon ..............................| 5.2
South Dakota ........................| 2.2
Tennessee ...........................| 3.6
|
Vermont .............................| 2.6
Washington ..........................| 5.2
Wisconsin ...........................| 3.5
Wyoming .............................| 3.5
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from March 2026 to April 2026, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | March | April | change(p)
| 2026 | 2026(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut ....................| 4.8 | 5.0 | 0.2
Florida ........................| 4.7 | 4.8 | .1
North Dakota ...................| 2.5 | 2.4 | -.1
Ohio ...........................| 4.1 | 3.9 | -.2
South Dakota ...................| 2.3 | 2.2 | -.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from April 2025 to April 2026, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | April | April | change(p)
| 2025 | 2026(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ........................| 4.2 | 4.7 | 0.5
Arkansas .......................| 3.9 | 4.3 | .4
California .....................| 5.4 | 5.3 | -.1
Connecticut ....................| 3.8 | 5.0 | 1.2
Delaware .......................| 4.5 | 5.3 | .8
Florida ........................| 3.7 | 4.8 | 1.1
Illinois .......................| 4.5 | 5.1 | .6
Indiana ........................| 3.7 | 3.2 | -.5
Iowa ...........................| 3.6 | 3.3 | -.3
Kentucky .......................| 4.7 | 4.3 | -.4
| | |
Maryland .......................| 3.8 | 4.4 | .6
Minnesota ......................| 3.6 | 4.5 | .9
Montana ........................| 3.1 | 3.5 | .4
New Jersey .....................| 5.1 | 4.8 | -.3
New Mexico .....................| 4.1 | 4.9 | .8
New York .......................| 4.1 | 4.6 | .5
Ohio ...........................| 4.8 | 3.9 | -.9
Oklahoma .......................| 3.1 | 4.0 | .9
South Carolina .................| 4.2 | 4.8 | .6
Texas ..........................| 4.1 | 4.3 | .2
| | |
Utah ...........................| 3.4 | 3.8 | .4
Virginia .......................| 3.3 | 3.8 | .5
Washington .....................| 4.5 | 5.2 | .7
West Virginia ..................| 3.9 | 4.4 | .5
Wisconsin ......................| 3.2 | 3.5 | .3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
March 2026 to April 2026, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | March | April |---------------------------
| 2026 | 2026(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado .....................| 2,956,000 | 2,967,800 | 11,800 | 0.4
Florida ......................| 9,992,400 | 10,032,900 | 40,500 | .4
Minnesota ....................| 3,027,000 | 3,042,900 | 15,900 | .5
Missouri .....................| 2,982,100 | 2,994,100 | 12,000 | .4
New Mexico ...................| 890,700 | 896,400 | 5,700 | .6
North Carolina ...............| 5,080,100 | 5,096,100 | 16,000 | .3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
April 2025 to April 2026, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | April | April |---------------------------
| 2025 | 2026(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
District of Columbia .........| 760,000 | 720,900 | -39,100 | -5.1
Nevada .......................| 1,580,600 | 1,610,800 | 30,200 | 1.9
Oregon .......................| 1,987,000 | 1,963,400 | -23,600 | -1.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
