February 2026
Released April 22, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 18, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.3 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.
In February, payroll jobs rose in 14 states and fell in 36. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Nebraska.
Nebraska
Employment snapshot
In February, Nebraska lost 6,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska added 200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Nebraska lost 5,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In February, Nebraska’s private sector lost 6,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 5,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska added 300 net private payroll jobs.
In February, employment in Nebraska fell by 594, and over the past 12 months it rose by 9,492.
Nebraska’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 70.1 percent in February and is tied for 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.
Nebraska
Payroll employment
Nebraska lost 6,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.6 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Nebraska added 200 jobs. Nebraska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Nebraska lost 6,800 private sector jobs, or -0.8 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Nebraska added 300 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From January 2026 to February 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+400) and Federal Government (+300).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-3,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400).
From February 2025 to February 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+3,400) and Construction (+2,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-4,800) and Professional and Business Services (-2,800).
Nebraska
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 Nebraska remained unchanged at 70.1 percent in February.
Nebraska is tied for 2nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 69.1 percent occurring in November 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.