April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026
Download the full PDF for North Dakota
Download the summary PDF for North Dakota
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.
North Dakota
Employment snapshot
In April, North Dakota lost 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.4 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 2.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, North Dakota’s private sector lost 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,500 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in North Dakota fell by 357, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,156.
North Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 69.9 percent in April from 70.1 percent and is tied for 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.
North Dakota
Payroll employment
North Dakota lost 1,900 net payroll jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,900 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
North Dakota lost 1,800 private sector jobs, or -0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,500 jobs. North Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 32nd 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 Mining and Logging (+200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+0).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-900) and Professional and Business Services (-700).
From April 2025 to April 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,300) and State and Local Government (+1,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-600) and Mining and Logging (-600).
North Dakota
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 Dakota fell to 69.9 percent in April from 70.1 percent in the prior month.
North Dakota is tied for 2nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 70.9 percent occurring in April 2017, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in January 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.