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.
Texas
Employment snapshot
In April, Texas added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Texas added 37,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Texas added 82,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Texas is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In April, Texas’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 83,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Texas added 37,300 net private payroll jobs.
In April, employment in Texas fell by 24,323, and over the past 12 months it rose by 13,774.
Texas’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.3 percent in April from 64.4 percent and ranks 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.
Texas
Payroll employment
Texas added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Texas added 37,300 jobs. Texas 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. Texas is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Texas lost 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Texas added 37,300 jobs. Texas 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. Texas is tied for 7th 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 (+4,700) and Construction (+3,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-4,500) and Financial Activities (-2,800).
From April 2025 to April 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+41,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+29,000).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-14,700) and Manufacturing (-11,500).
Texas
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 Texas fell to 64.3 percent in April from 64.4 percent in the prior month.
Texas ranks 14th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Texas was 64.9 percent occurring in June 2024, and the 10-year low was 60.3 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.8 percent in April.