Unemployment rates higher in 19 states over the year ended April 2026

[mahatmakanejeeves]

TED: The Economics Daily
Unemployment rates higher in 19 states over the year ended April 2026

June 02, 2026

From April 2025 to April 2026, 19 states had unemployment rate increases from a year earlier, 6 states had decreases, and 25 states and the District of Columbia had little change. The national unemployment rate, 4.3 percent, was unchanged over the month and was little changed from April 2025.

{snip interactive map}

The largest over-the-year unemployment rate increases were in Connecticut (+1.2 percentage points) and Florida (+1.1 points). Six states had over-the-year rate decreases, the largest of which was in Ohio (−0.9 percentage point). Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.

These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "State Employment and Unemployment — April 2026." We also have charts and maps of state employment and unemployment data.

[SheltieLover]

1. There are NO JOBS out there. Not real ones.

[CBHagman]

2. Two of my former colleagues just started new positions.

So yes, there are companies hiring.

[SheltieLover]

3. Very very few

[CBHagman]

4. Ah. So there are jobs out there and companies out there hiring folks.

A step up from none!