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.
Minnesota
Employment snapshot
In January, Minnesota added 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 12,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Minnesota’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 100 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Minnesota fell by 9,381, and over the past 12 months it fell by 15,330.
Minnesota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.2 percent in January from 68.3 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.
Minnesota
Payroll employment
Minnesota added 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Minnesota added 700 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Minnesota lost 900 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 100 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota is tied for 17th 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 (+5,000) and Construction (+3,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-4,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,500).
From January 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+20,000) and Construction (+7,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-5,300) and Professional and Business Services (-3,600).
Minnesota
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 Minnesota fell to 68.2 percent in January from 68.3 percent in the prior month.
Minnesota ranks 4th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 70.9 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 67 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.