May 2025

Released June 24, 2025

Released April 18, 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.

California Employment Snapshot

• In May, California added 17,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.3 percent. In the prior month, California added 23,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, California added 92,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 5.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. California is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, California’s private sector added 16,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 40,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California added 21,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in California rose by 49,354, and over the past 12 months it rose by 146,303.

• California’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.3 percent in May from 62.2 percent and ranks 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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California Payroll Employment

• California added 17,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, California added 23,100 jobs. California 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. California is tied for 39th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• California added 16,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, California added 21,100 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. California is tied for 43rd 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 Education and Health Services (10,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (9,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-1,900) and Professional and Business Services (-4,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (165,100) and Government (52,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-32,200) and Professional and Business Services (-40,400).

California 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 California rose to 62.3 percent in May from 62.2 percent in the prior month.

• California ranks 30th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in California was 63 percent in February 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.

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