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.

Wisconsin

Employment snapshot

• In April, Wisconsin added 9,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin lost 12,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000 in April, or 0.1 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In April, Wisconsin’s private sector added 9,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 4,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In April, employment in Wisconsin rose by 364, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,864.

• Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.4 percent in April and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Wisconsin

Payroll employment

• Wisconsin added 9,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 600 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Wisconsin added 9,200 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during April. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 700 jobs. Wisconsin private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 123,000 jobs in April, or 0.1 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 39th 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 (+5,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,500) and Manufacturing (-1,200).

From April 2025 to April 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,100) and Construction (+6,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-14,500) and Manufacturing (-7,900).

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 remained unchanged at 64.4 percent in April.

• Wisconsin ranks 13th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Wisconsin was 68.2 percent occurring in April 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 61.8 percent in April.