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.

Mississippi

Employment snapshot

• In January, Mississippi lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 2,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Mississippi’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Mississippi fell by 1,800, and over the past 12 months it rose by 382.

• Mississippi’s labor force participation rate fell to 55.6 percent in January from 55.7 percent and ranks 50th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Mississippi

Payroll employment

• Mississippi lost 800 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 2,400 jobs. Mississippi 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. Mississippi is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Mississippi lost 800 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 2,000 jobs. Mississippi 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. Mississippi 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,100) and Professional and Business Services (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-800).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,900) and Manufacturing (-2,000).

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 55.6 percent in January from 55.7 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 61.9 percent in March.