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.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In April, Maine added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Maine lost 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Maine’s private sector added 1,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Maine fell by 851, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,357.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.4 percent in April from 59.5 percent and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Maine lost 400 jobs. Maine 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. Maine is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine added 1,700 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Maine lost 500 jobs. Maine 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. Maine is tied for 18th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,300) and Professional and Business Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-700) and Manufacturing (-300).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,000).

Maine

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 Maine fell to 59.4 percent in April from 59.5 percent in the prior month.

• Maine ranks 40th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 63.7 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 58.2 percent occurring in April 2020.

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