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.

West Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In April, West Virginia added 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia added 900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, West Virginia’s private sector added 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia added 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in West Virginia fell by 1,510, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,380.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 54.1 percent in April from 54.3 percent and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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West Virginia

Payroll employment

• West Virginia added 1,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, West Virginia added 900 jobs. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia added 1,600 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, West Virginia added 200 jobs. West Virginia 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. West Virginia is tied for 15th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+700) and Construction (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Mining and Logging (-400) and Professional and Business Services (-300).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+3,600) and Construction (+2,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-800).

West Virginia

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 West Virginia fell to 54.1 percent in April from 54.3 percent in the prior month.

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.3 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 52.7 percent in April 2020.

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