January 2026 | Released April 08, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.2 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In January, payroll jobs rose in 45 states and fell in 6. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in California and North Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.7 percent in District of Columbia.

Rhode Island

Employment snapshot

• In January, Rhode Island added 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island lost 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In January, Rhode Island’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In January, employment in Rhode Island fell by 1,358, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,747.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.7 percent in January from 63.8 percent and ranks 19th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Rhode Island

Payroll employment

• Rhode Island added 400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 1,000 jobs. Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Rhode Island added 700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 900 jobs. Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From December 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+400) and Leisure and Hospitality (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-400) and Financial Activities (-200).

From January 2025 to January 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,500) and Construction (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,600) and Federal Government (-1,000).

Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island fell to 63.7 percent in January from 63.8 percent in the prior month.

• Rhode Island ranks 19th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 64.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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