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.

Oregon

Employment snapshot

• In April, Oregon added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Oregon lost 4,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon lost 23,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 5.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Oregon’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 20,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon lost 3,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Oregon fell by 4,302, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,597.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.5 percent in April from 62.6 percent and is tied for 25th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Oregon

Payroll employment

• Oregon added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Oregon lost 4,300 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon added 500 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Oregon lost 3,600 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Oregon ranks 50th 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 (+2,200) and Construction (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,000) and Financial Activities (-900).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,700) and Mining and Logging (+0).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-9,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,000).

Oregon

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 Oregon fell to 62.5 percent in April from 62.6 percent in the prior month.

• Oregon is tied for 25th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 63 percent occurring in July 2025, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.