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.

Nebraska

Employment snapshot

• In April, Nebraska added 2,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nebraska lost 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Nebraska’s private sector added 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 3,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Nebraska fell by 561, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,401.

• Nebraska’s labor force participation rate fell to 69.9 percent in April from 70 percent and is tied for 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Nebraska

Payroll employment

• Nebraska added 2,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,400 jobs. Nebraska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nebraska added 1,900 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,800 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 44th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+800) and Leisure and Hospitality (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-200) and Professional and Business Services (-100).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,200) and Construction (+3,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-4,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-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 fell to 69.9 percent in April from 70 percent in the prior month.

• 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 61.8 percent in April.