April employment trends for 2026 saw Minnesota’s unemployment rate remain the same at 4.5% and the labor force participation drop by two-tenths of a percentage point to 67.4%, compared to the national rate of 61.8%.
“Minnesota jobs grew phenomenally over the month in April, which we partially attribute to a significantly smaller ICE presence in Minnesota,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “That said, we continue to monitor labor force participation, which decreased four months in a row, and over-the-year job growth.”
April 2026 – Unemployment
Year-over-year/Month-over-month comparison
- ±0.0% from March 2026
- +1.3% from April 2025
Minnesota’s unemployment rate held at 4.5%, above the national rate of 4.3%, which also remained steady. The state’s labor force participation rate ticked down two-tenths of a percentage point to 67.4%, compared to the national rate of 61.8%.
*Data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics
April 2026 – Jobs Gained
Jobs Gained & Industries Affected
- 4,000 Government
- 3,800 Hospitality
- 3,100 Trade & Utilities
- 2,100 Construction
- 3,200 Other Services
“Jobs rebounded over-the-month in April, which is good news,” said Angelina Nguyen, DEED Labor Market Information director. “Minnesota’s labor force size and participation rate was and continues to be impacted by immigration policy as well as demographic shifts.”
Key News & Trends
- US added 115,000 jobs in April, fueling cautious optimism about hiring | USA Today Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand HR Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand Finance and Accounting Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand IT Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
