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.
Kansas
Employment snapshot
In February, Kansas lost 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Kansas added 1,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kansas added 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Kansas is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In February, Kansas’s private sector lost 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kansas added 100 net private payroll jobs.
In February, employment in Kansas fell by 1,896, and over the past 12 months it rose by 10,898.
Kansas’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.8 percent in February from 67.9 percent and is tied for 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.
Kansas
Payroll employment
Kansas lost 3,800 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Kansas added 1,400 jobs. Kansas 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. Kansas is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kansas lost 2,200 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Kansas added 100 jobs. Kansas 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. Kansas is tied for 24th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+800) and Federal Government (+200).
- The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,800).
From February 2025 to February 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,600) and State and Local Government (+2,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100).
Kansas
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 Kansas fell to 67.8 percent in February from 67.9 percent in the prior month.
Kansas is tied for 5th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kansas was 68 percent occurring in August 2025, and the 10-year low was 66.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.