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.

District of Columbia

Employment snapshot

• In May, District of Columbia lost 2,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 6.1 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 40,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, District of Columbia’s private sector lost 2,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 13,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 300 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in District of Columbia fell by 170, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,905.

• District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate fell to 70.5 percent in May from 70.6 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.8 percentage points.

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District of Columbia

Payroll employment

• District of Columbia lost 2,600 net payroll jobs, or -0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 100 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 1 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• District of Columbia lost 2,400 private sector jobs, or -0.5 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 300 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st 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 (+100) and Financial Activities (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,200) and Other Services (-800).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (-100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-26,800) and Professional and Business Services (-5,800).

District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia fell to 70.5 percent in May from 70.6 percent in the prior month.

• District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in District of Columbia was 73 percent in January 2024, and the 10-year low was 68 percent in May 2020.

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