April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

Download the full PDF for District of Columbia

Download the summary PDF for District of Columbia

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.

District of Columbia

Employment snapshot

• In April, District of Columbia added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 6.2 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 39,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 6.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, District of Columbia’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 11,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in District of Columbia fell by 441, and over the past 12 months it fell by 10,011.

• District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate fell to 70.6 percent in April from 70.8 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.9 percentage points.

---

District of Columbia

Payroll employment

• District of Columbia added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 700 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• District of Columbia added 600 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 1,400 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st 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 Professional and Business Services (+900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-800) and Other Services (-800).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (-100) and Financial Activities (-400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-26,800) and Professional and Business Services (-5,200).

District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia fell to 70.6 percent in April from 70.8 percent in the prior month.

• District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in District of Columbia was 73 percent in January 2024, and the 10-year low was 68 percent in May 2020.

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