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.

Idaho

Employment snapshot

• In February, Idaho lost 2,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Idaho lost 3,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 4,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Idaho’s private sector lost 2,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho lost 3,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Idaho fell by 1,539, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,969.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.7 percent in February from 62.8 percent and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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Idaho

Payroll employment

• Idaho lost 2,800 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Idaho lost 3,400 jobs. Idaho 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. Idaho is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho lost 2,700 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Idaho lost 3,200 jobs. Idaho 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. Idaho is tied for 10th 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 (+700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-800).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300) and Federal Government (-1,000).

Idaho

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 Idaho fell to 62.7 percent in February from 62.8 percent in the prior month.

• Idaho is tied for 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Idaho was 64.5 percent occurring in July 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.7 percent in February 2026.

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