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.

Arizona

Employment snapshot

• In February, Arizona added 11,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Arizona added 6,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Arizona lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Arizona ranks 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Arizona’s private sector added 10,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arizona added 7,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Arizona fell by 16,669, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,510.

• Arizona’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.7 percent in February from 62 percent and ranks 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Arizona

Payroll employment

• Arizona added 11,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Arizona added 6,800 jobs. Arizona 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. Arizona ranks 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Arizona added 10,400 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Arizona added 7,900 jobs. Arizona private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Arizona ranks 16th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+4,000) and Professional and Business Services (+3,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600) and Financial Activities (-500).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+12,100) and Professional and Business Services (+3,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,800) and State and Local Government (-4,300).

Arizona

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 Arizona fell to 61.7 percent in February from 62 percent in the prior month.

• Arizona ranks 34th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arizona was 62.2 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.2 percent occurring in February 2016.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.