April 2026

Released May 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In April, Alaska added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Alaska lost 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska lost 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Alaska’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Alaska fell by 166, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,267.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.1 percent in April from 66.2 percent and is tied for 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Alaska lost 400 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska added 700 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Alaska remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From March 2026 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Mining and Logging (+600) and Private Education and Health Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-200) and Manufacturing (-100).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Mining and Logging (+1,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,800) and Construction (-1,100).

Alaska

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Alaska fell to 66.1 percent in April from 66.2 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska is tied for 9th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.3 percent occurring in April 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.