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.

Illinois

Employment snapshot

• In April, Illinois added 11,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Illinois added 10,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Illinois lost 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Illinois’s private sector added 11,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois added 8,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Illinois fell by 18,324, and over the past 12 months it fell by 93,575.

• Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.8 percent in April from 64 percent and ranks 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Illinois

Payroll employment

• Illinois added 11,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Illinois added 10,300 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Illinois added 11,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Illinois added 8,900 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 36th 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 (+4,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,400) and Financial Activities (-1,400).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+20,100) and Construction (+7,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-14,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-9,900).

Illinois

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 Illinois fell to 63.8 percent in April from 64 percent in the prior month.

• Illinois ranks 16th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.6 percent in April 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.

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