April 2026 | Released May 22, 2026
Download the full PDF for Ohio
Download the summary PDF for Ohio
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.
Ohio
Employment snapshot
In April, Ohio added 7,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Ohio added 10,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Ohio added 16,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.9 percentage points from 4.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, Ohio’s private sector added 7,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Ohio added 9,100 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in Ohio rose by 695, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,633.
Ohio’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.9 percent in April from 62.1 percent and ranks 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Ohio
Payroll employment
Ohio added 7,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Ohio added 10,100 jobs. Ohio nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Ohio added 7,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Ohio added 9,100 jobs. Ohio private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 18th 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 Manufacturing (+4,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-1,700) and Professional and Business Services (-400).
From April 2025 to April 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+11,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+9,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-6,600) and Other Services (-3,000).
Ohio
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 Ohio fell to 61.9 percent in April from 62.1 percent in the prior month.
Ohio ranks 31st in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 63.6 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.