Job Growth in U.S. Limited to a Few States

By SBE Council at 25 May, 2026, 10:45 am

by Raymond J. Keating –

Growth in nonfarm payroll employment among the states was limited to only six states in April 2026 compared to the previous months, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and when compared to April 2025, only one state saw a statistically significant increase in employment.

The six states experiencing gains in April versus March were Florida (+40.500, or +0.4 percent), North Carolina (+16,000 or +0.3 percent), Minnesota (+15,900 or 0.5 percent), Missouri (+12,000 or 0.4 percent), Colorado (+11.800 or 0.4 percent), and New Mexico (+5,700 or 0.6 percent). The other 44 states were flat.

Meanwhile, compared to a year earlier, Nevada experienced a statistically significant increase (+30,200 or 1.9 percent). In contrast, Oregon lost jobs (-23,600 or -1.2 percent). The other 48 states, again, were flat.

To say the least, the signals on the economy have been mixed. As I’ve noted before, the positive take on the labor market is that it’s stable. The more accurate assessment, however, is that the labor market has stagnated, and that case is buttressed by the fact that job growth is occurring in so few states.

Raymond J. Keating is chief economist for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. He is the author of “The Weekly Economist” book series, and 10 Points from Walt Disney on Entrepreneurship.