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.

Mississippi

Employment snapshot

• In April, Mississippi added 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

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

• In April, employment in Mississippi fell by 3,166, and over the past 12 months it fell by 5,088.

• Mississippi’s labor force participation rate fell to 55.4 percent in April from 55.5 percent and ranks 50th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Mississippi

Payroll employment

• Mississippi added 3,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 900 jobs. Mississippi nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Mississippi added 3,700 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 900 jobs. Mississippi 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. Mississippi 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 Professional and Business Services (+1,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-500) and Private Education and Health Services (-300).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,800) and Construction (-1,800).

Mississippi

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 Mississippi fell to 55.4 percent in April from 55.5 percent in the prior month.

• Mississippi ranks 50th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Mississippi was 56.4 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 53 percent in April 2020.

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