January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In January, Maine added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Maine lost 700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine lost 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Maine’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine lost 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Maine fell by 959, and over the past 12 months it rose by 228.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.7 percent in January from 59.8 percent and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine added 1,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maine lost 700 jobs. Maine nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine added 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Maine lost 900 jobs. Maine private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,400) and Construction (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300) and Professional and Business Services (-100).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700).

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 59.7 percent in January from 59.8 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 61.9 percent in March.