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.
Wisconsin
Employment snapshot
In January, Wisconsin added 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 2,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin lost 15,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Wisconsin’s private sector added 6,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 8,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 1,700 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Wisconsin rose by 769, and over the past 12 months it fell by 18,610.
Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate rose to 64.3 percent in January from 64.2 percent and ranks 14th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
Wisconsin
Payroll employment
Wisconsin added 8,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 2,200 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Wisconsin added 6,700 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 1,700 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin is tied for 41st 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 Professional and Business Services (+4,200) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-2,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).
From January 2025 to January 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+9,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+8,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-10,600) and Manufacturing (-8,600).
Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin rose to 64.3 percent in January from 64.2 percent in the prior month.
Wisconsin ranks 14th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Wisconsin was 68.2 percent occurring in January 2016, and the 10-year low was 64.1 percent occurring in July 2025.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.