April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

Download the full PDF for Delaware

Download the summary PDF for Delaware

United States

Employment snapshot

• In April, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in April.

• In April, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in New Mexico. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in North Dakota.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In April, Delaware lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.3 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware lost 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Delaware’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Delaware fell by 1,121, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,410.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.9 percent in April from 59.1 percent and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

---

Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware lost 800 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Delaware added 300 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware lost 800 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Delaware added 800 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From March 2026 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500) and Leisure and Hospitality (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-500) and Manufacturing (-500).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,300) and Professional and Business Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,400) and Manufacturing (-1,200).

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 58.9 percent in April from 59.1 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 43rd 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 58.9 percent in April 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.