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.

Missouri

Employment snapshot

• In January, Missouri added 9,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Missouri lost 2,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 26,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Missouri is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Missouri’s private sector added 10,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 33,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Missouri rose by 2,435, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,320.

• Missouri’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.6 percent in January and is tied for 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.

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Missouri

Payroll employment

• Missouri added 9,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Missouri lost 2,500 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri is tied for 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Missouri added 10,700 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Missouri lost 2,000 jobs. Missouri private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Missouri ranks 3rd 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 Construction (+7,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+4,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-4,100) and Manufacturing (-2,200).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+19,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+11,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-6,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,500).

Missouri

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 Missouri remained unchanged at 63.6 percent in January.

• Missouri is tied for 20th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in February 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.