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.

Indiana

Employment snapshot

• In April, Indiana lost 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Indiana added 8,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Indiana lost 13,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Indiana’s private sector lost 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana added 8,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Indiana fell by 5,092, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,650.

• Indiana’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.2 percent in April from 63.3 percent and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Indiana

Payroll employment

• Indiana lost 600 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Indiana added 8,100 jobs. Indiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Indiana lost 600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Indiana added 8,100 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 30th 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 (+4,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-3,200) and Professional and Business Services (-2,200).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,800) and Professional and Business Services (+4,700).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-13,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-8,500).

Indiana

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 Indiana fell to 63.2 percent in April from 63.3 percent in the prior month.

• Indiana is tied for 21st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Indiana was 65.2 percent in June 2018, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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