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.
Arkansas
Employment snapshot
In May, Arkansas added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Arkansas added 500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Arkansas added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Arkansas’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arkansas added 400 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Arkansas rose by 2,452, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,532.
Arkansas’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.1 percent in May and ranks 41st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.
Arkansas
Payroll employment
Arkansas added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Arkansas added 500 jobs. Arkansas 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. Arkansas is tied for 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Arkansas added 400 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Arkansas added 400 jobs. Arkansas private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Arkansas 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 Professional and Business Services (+900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+400).
- The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-500) and Other Services (-300).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+3,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-1,300) and Federal Government (-1,200).
Arkansas
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 Arkansas remained unchanged at 59.1 percent in May.
Arkansas ranks 41st in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arkansas was 59.2 percent occurring in February 2026, and the 10-year low was 56.4 percent occurring in July 2021.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.