State-Level Employment Situation: April 2026

In April 2026, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia with a national gain of 115,000 jobs, while construction employment added 9,000 jobs nationwide with 32 states recording gains. State unemployment rates ranged from 2.2 percent in South Dakota to 6.2 percent in the District of Columbia, which experienced significant federal workforce reductions exceeding 300,000 positions in 2025.