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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In April, Washington lost 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 1,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington lost 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Washington’s private sector lost 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 3,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Washington fell by 4,939, and over the past 12 months it fell by 14,211.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in April and is tied for 25th 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 3,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Washington added 1,900 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington lost 1,900 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Washington added 3,500 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 26th 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 Manufacturing (+1,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-1,400) and Private Education and Health Services (-1,200).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+6,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+6,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-6,900) and Financial Activities (-3,700).

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 62.5 percent in April.

• Washington is tied for 25th 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 62.5 percent occurring in March 2026.

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