April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

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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.

Idaho

Employment snapshot

• In April, Idaho added 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 4,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Idaho’s private sector added 4,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho added 3,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Idaho fell by 2,290, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,169.

• Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.2 percent in April from 62.4 percent and ranks 27th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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Idaho

Payroll employment

• Idaho added 3,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Idaho added 2,900 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Idaho added 4,100 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Idaho added 3,100 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 7th 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 Manufacturing (+1,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-400) and Construction (-200).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,100) and Construction (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,800) and Federal Government (-900).

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 62.2 percent in April from 62.4 percent in the prior month.

• Idaho ranks 27th 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 62.2 percent in April 2026.

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