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.

Alaska

Employment snapshot

• In May, Alaska added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Alaska added 900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Alaska’s private sector added 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Alaska fell by 298, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,940.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate fell to 66 percent in May from 66.1 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Alaska

Payroll employment

• Alaska added 1,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alaska added 900 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska added 1,600 private sector jobs, or 0.6 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alaska added 1,000 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Alaska ranks 3rd 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+700).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-300) and Private Education and Health Services (-200).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,600) and State and Local Government (-1,000).

Alaska

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 Alaska fell to 66 percent in May from 66.1 percent in the prior month.

• Alaska ranks 9th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.3 percent in May 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.