May 2026
Released June 23, 2026
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United States
Employment snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 20, rose in 9, and remained unchanged in 22.
The highest unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.1 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 13. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.4 percent in West Virginia. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.5 percent in Montana.
Alabama
Employment snapshot
In May, Alabama added 6,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 16,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Alabama’s private sector added 5,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 12,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 2,700 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Alabama fell by 8,834, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,426.
Alabama’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.2 percent in May from 57.3 percent and ranks 48th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
Alabama
Payroll employment
Alabama added 6,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,600 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Alabama added 5,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alabama added 2,700 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
From April 2026 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+2,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-500) and Federal Government (+0).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+9,400) and Construction (+6,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,900).
Alabama
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 Alabama fell to 57.2 percent in May from 57.3 percent in the prior month.
Alabama ranks 48th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 57.8 percent occurring in February 2019, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.