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.

New Hampshire

Employment snapshot

• In April, New Hampshire added 2,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.1 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire lost 2,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, New Hampshire’s private sector added 2,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in New Hampshire rose by 95, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,559.

• New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.2 percent in April from 65.3 percent and ranks 12th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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New Hampshire

Payroll employment

• New Hampshire added 2,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 700 jobs. New Hampshire nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Hampshire added 2,900 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 800 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 36th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-100) and Federal Government (-100).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Other Services (+1,400) and Professional and Business Services (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,900) and State and Local Government (-1,400).

New Hampshire

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 New Hampshire fell to 65.2 percent in April from 65.3 percent in the prior month.

• New Hampshire ranks 12th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Hampshire was 69 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.1 percent in October 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.