May 2026 | Released June 23, 2026

Download the full PDF for Delaware

Download the summary PDF for Delaware

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.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In May, Delaware added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Delaware lost 700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Delaware’s private sector added 1,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Delaware fell by 393, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,637.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.6 percent in May from 58.9 percent and is tied for 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

---

Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware added 2,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Delaware lost 700 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware added 1,900 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Delaware lost 500 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 30th 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 (+700) and Private Education and Health Services (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (+0) and Information (+0).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,700) and Professional and Business Services (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,500) and Manufacturing (-1,000).

Delaware

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 Delaware fell to 58.6 percent in May from 58.9 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware is tied for 44th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.2 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 58.6 percent in May 2026.

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