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.

Colorado

Employment snapshot

• In February, Colorado lost 7,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Colorado added 1,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Colorado lost 9,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Colorado is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Colorado’s private sector lost 7,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Colorado added 2,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Colorado fell by 11,346, and over the past 12 months it fell by 20,262.

• Colorado’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.6 percent in February from 66.8 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Colorado

Payroll employment

• Colorado lost 7,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Colorado added 1,300 jobs. Colorado 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. Colorado is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Colorado lost 7,200 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Colorado added 2,000 jobs. Colorado 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. Colorado is tied for 34th 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 Construction (+1,000) and State and Local Government (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-2,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+13,400) and State and Local Government (+3,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-6,500) and Financial Activities (-4,800).

Colorado

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 Colorado fell to 66.6 percent in February from 66.8 percent in the prior month.

• Colorado ranks 9th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Colorado was 68.8 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.4 percent in July 2020.

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