May 2025 | Released June 24, 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.

Florida Employment Snapshot

• In May, Florida added 20,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Florida added 13,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Florida added 148,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Florida’s private sector added 22,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 134,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida added 14,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Florida fell by 6,816, and over the past 12 months it fell by 976.

• Florida’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.9 percent in May from 58 percent and is tied for 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Florida Payroll Employment

• Florida added 20,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Florida added 13,200 jobs. Florida nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Florida added 22,900 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Florida added 14,700 jobs. Florida private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 6th 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 Professional and Business Services (7,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (4,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-400) and Government (-2,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (49,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (32,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (4,100) and Information (2,600).

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 57.9 percent in May from 58 percent in the prior month.

• Florida is tied for 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.

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