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.

Michigan

Employment snapshot

• In April, Michigan added 5,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 5,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan lost 6,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 5.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Michigan’s private sector added 5,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 16,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Michigan fell by 18,813, and over the past 12 months it fell by 90,299.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.1 percent in April from 60.3 percent and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.5 percentage points.

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Michigan

Payroll employment

• Michigan added 5,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Michigan added 5,000 jobs. Michigan 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. Michigan is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan added 5,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Michigan added 3,900 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 44th 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 (+3,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-1,600) and Manufacturing (-1,000).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+13,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+5,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-9,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,700).

Michigan

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 Michigan fell to 60.1 percent in April from 60.3 percent in the prior month.

• Michigan ranks 38th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.

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