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.
Pennsylvania
Employment snapshot
In April, Pennsylvania added 10,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 11,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 31,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 9,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 35,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 10,900 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in Pennsylvania rose by 14,782, and over the past 12 months it rose by 80,153.
Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.1 percent in April from 62 percent and is tied for 28th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.7 percentage points.
Pennsylvania
Payroll employment
Pennsylvania added 10,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 11,000 jobs. Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania is tied for 8th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Pennsylvania added 9,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 10,900 jobs. Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania is tied for 12th 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 Professional and Business Services (+4,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,200) and Construction (-1,100).
From April 2025 to April 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+32,000) and Professional and Business Services (+10,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-8,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-7,300).
Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania rose to 62.1 percent in April from 62 percent in the prior month.
Pennsylvania is tied for 28th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.3 percent occurring in April 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.