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.

North Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In February, North Carolina lost 2,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina added 3,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 36,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, North Carolina’s private sector lost 3,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 30,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina added 3,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in North Carolina rose by 701, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,711.

• North Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.1 percent in February from 59.2 percent and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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North Carolina

Payroll employment

• North Carolina lost 2,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, North Carolina added 3,800 jobs. North Carolina 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. North Carolina is tied for 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Carolina lost 3,800 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, North Carolina added 3,700 jobs. North Carolina 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. North Carolina is tied for 8th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+2,700) and Other Services (+900).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,900).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+22,000) and State and Local Government (+11,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-12,500) and Federal Government (-5,700).

North Carolina

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 North Carolina fell to 59.1 percent in February from 59.2 percent in the prior month.

• North Carolina ranks 43rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Carolina was 61.6 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 56.6 percent in April 2020.

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