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.
Oklahoma
Employment snapshot
In April, Oklahoma added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma lost 4,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 3.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, Oklahoma’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,600 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in Oklahoma fell by 10,874, and over the past 12 months it fell by 37,032.
Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate fell to 62 percent in April from 62.4 percent and ranks 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.
Oklahoma
Payroll employment
Oklahoma added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,800 jobs. Oklahoma 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. Oklahoma is tied for 35th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Oklahoma added 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,600 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,500) and State and Local Government (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).
From April 2025 to April 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+5,100) and State and Local Government (+2,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-3,800).
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 percent in April from 62.4 percent in the prior month.
Oklahoma ranks 30th 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 61.8 percent in April.