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.

Arkansas

Employment snapshot

• In February, Arkansas lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Arkansas added 9,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Arkansas’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Arkansas rose by 3,519, and over the past 12 months it rose by 19,785.

• Arkansas’s labor force participation rate rose to 59.2 percent in February from 59.1 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Arkansas

Payroll employment

• Arkansas lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,500 jobs. Arkansas nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Arkansas lost 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Arkansas added 1,400 jobs. Arkansas 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. Arkansas ranks 3rd 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 (+500) and Construction (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600) and Other Services (-400).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+4,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+3,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-2,100) and Federal Government (-1,400).

Arkansas

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 Arkansas rose to 59.2 percent in February from 59.1 percent in the prior month.

• Arkansas ranks 42nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arkansas was 59.2 percent in February 2026, and the 10-year low was 56.4 percent occurring in July 2021.

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