January 2026

Released April 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In January, Delaware added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.4 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.3 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Delaware’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Delaware fell by 1,267, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,021.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.5 percent in January from 59.7 percent and ranks 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,100 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware added 500 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Delaware added 2,200 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-400).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900) and Financial Activities (-800).

Delaware

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 Delaware fell to 59.5 percent in January from 59.7 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 41st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.2 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent occurring in April 2020.

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