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.

Oklahoma

Employment snapshot

• In February, Oklahoma lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma lost 5,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Oklahoma’s private sector lost 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 2,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 300 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Oklahoma fell by 5,642, and over the past 12 months it fell by 15,230.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.7 percent in February from 62.8 percent and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Oklahoma

Payroll employment

• Oklahoma lost 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Oklahoma lost 300 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma lost 600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 300 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 34th 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 (+1,100) and Construction (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Manufacturing (-400).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,200) and Construction (+3,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (-4,200).

Oklahoma

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 Oklahoma fell to 62.7 percent in February from 62.8 percent in the prior month.

• Oklahoma is tied for 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63.3 percent occurring in November 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

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