February 2026 | Released April 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 18, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.3 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 14 states and fell in 36. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Nebraska.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In February, Alaska remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska lost 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 4.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Alaska’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska added 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Alaska rose by 911, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,461.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate rose to 66.2 percent in February from 66.1 percent and ranks 10th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Alaska added 300 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Alaska added 700 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From January 2026 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400) and Financial Activities (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-300) and Construction (-300).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,300) and Mining and Logging (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,700) 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 rose to 66.2 percent in February from 66.1 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 10th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.3 percent occurring in February 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 61.9 percent in March.