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.
Georgia Employment Snapshot
In May, Georgia added 4,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Georgia added 4,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Georgia added 14,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Georgia is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Georgia’s private sector added 4,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Georgia added 4,200 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Georgia fell by 1,386, and over the past 12 months it fell by 28,111.
Georgia’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.7 percent in May from 60.8 percent and ranks 37th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.
Georgia Payroll Employment
Georgia added 4,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Georgia added 4,200 jobs. Georgia 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. Georgia is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Georgia added 4,800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Georgia added 4,200 jobs. Georgia 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. Georgia is tied for 47th 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 (4,400) and Professional and Business Services (2,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,500) and Other Services (-2,600).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (26,200) and Government (8,900).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-4,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-11,400).
Georgia 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 Georgia fell to 60.7 percent in May from 60.8 percent in the prior month.
Georgia ranks 37th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Georgia was 63.9 percent occurring in September 2017, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent occurring in September 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.