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.
Florida
Employment snapshot
In May, Florida lost 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Florida added 33,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Florida added 11,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.1 percentage points from 3.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Florida’s private sector lost 2,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida added 33,500 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Florida fell by 4,622, and over the past 12 months it fell by 71,434.
Florida’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.6 percent in May from 57.7 percent and ranks 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Florida
Payroll employment
Florida lost 2,000 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Florida added 33,900 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Florida lost 2,200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Florida added 33,500 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Florida ranks 29th 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 (+3,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,400) and Financial Activities (-3,100).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+31,400) and Professional and Business Services (+17,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-15,500) and Federal Government (-8,500).
Florida
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 Florida fell to 57.6 percent in May from 57.7 percent in the prior month.
Florida ranks 46th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.