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.
Florida
Employment snapshot
In January, Florida added 21,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Florida added 6,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Florida lost 20,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 3.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Florida’s private sector added 23,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 9,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida added 4,400 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Florida fell by 13,114, and over the past 12 months it fell by 104,246.
Florida’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.6 percent in January and is tied for 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
Florida
Payroll employment
Florida added 21,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Florida added 6,700 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Florida added 23,800 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Florida added 4,400 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 33rd 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 Private Education and Health Services (+7,900) and Professional and Business Services (+6,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,600) and State and Local Government (-2,000).
From January 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+45,700) and State and Local Government (+900).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-15,900) and Federal Government (-12,500).
Florida
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 Florida remained unchanged at 57.6 percent in January.
Florida is tied for 47th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.