May 2025 | Released June 24, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.

• In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.

Alaska Employment Snapshot

• In May, Alaska remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Alaska lost 1,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Alaska added 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Alaska’s private sector added 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alaska lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Alaska rose by 130, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,940.

• Alaska’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.2 percent in May and is tied for 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Alaska Payroll Employment

• Alaska remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alaska lost 1,600 jobs. Alaska nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Alaska added 200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alaska lost 1,500 jobs. Alaska private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Alaska is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during May were Construction (700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-400) and Mining and Logging tied with Manufacturing (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (1,200) and Professional and Business Services (1,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-300) and Manufacturing (-800).

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 remained unchanged at 65.2 percent in May.

• Alaska is tied for 13th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alaska was 66.9 percent in May 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.