February 2026 | Released April 22, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 18, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.5 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.3 percent in Hawaii and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 14 states and fell in 36. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Nebraska.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In February, Washington lost 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Washington remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 7,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Washington’s private sector lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Washington fell by 2,420, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,809.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.6 percent in February and ranks 28th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington lost 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Washington remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Washington 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. Washington is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 1,100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Washington added 1,100 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Washington ranks 13th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From January 2026 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-2,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700).

From February 2025 to February 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+11,100) and Professional and Business Services (+6,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-7,500) and Manufacturing (-4,400).

Washington

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 Washington remained unchanged at 62.6 percent in February.

• Washington ranks 28th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 65.9 percent in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.6 percent occurring in December 2025.

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