February 2026 | Released April 22, 2026

Download the full PDF for Louisiana

Download the summary PDF for Louisiana

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.

Louisiana

Employment snapshot

• In February, Louisiana added 2,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 1,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Louisiana lost 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Louisiana’s private sector added 2,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Louisiana rose by 3,571, and over the past 12 months it rose by 28,903.

• Louisiana’s labor force participation rate rose to 58.7 percent in February from 58.6 percent and ranks 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.

---

Louisiana

Payroll employment

• Louisiana added 2,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Louisiana added 1,000 jobs. Louisiana 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. Louisiana is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Louisiana added 2,400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Louisiana added 900 jobs. Louisiana 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. Louisiana is tied for 30th 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 Professional and Business Services (+1,100) and Financial Activities (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800) and Private Education and Health Services (-200).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,900) and State and Local Government (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,400) and Information (-2,500).

Louisiana

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 Louisiana rose to 58.7 percent in February from 58.6 percent in the prior month.

• Louisiana ranks 45th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 59.6 percent occurring in February 2016, and the 10-year low was 55.2 percent in April 2020.

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