April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026

Download the full PDF for Missouri

Download the summary PDF for Missouri

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.

Missouri

Employment snapshot

• In April, Missouri added 12,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Missouri lost 3,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4 percent.

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

• In April, Missouri’s private sector added 11,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri lost 3,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Missouri fell by 1,553, and over the past 12 months it rose by 17,417.

• Missouri’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.5 percent in April and ranks 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

---

Missouri

Payroll employment

• Missouri added 12,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Missouri lost 3,600 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Missouri added 11,800 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Missouri lost 3,300 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri 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 (+7,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300) and Manufacturing (-500).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+7,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,600) and Manufacturing (-5,100).

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 63.5 percent in April.

• Missouri ranks 18th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in April 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 61.8 percent in April.