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.

Hawaii

Employment snapshot

• In May, Hawaii added 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.5 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii added 4,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Hawaii’s private sector added 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii added 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Hawaii rose by 1,094, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,106.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.8 percent in May from 60.7 percent and is tied for 35th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Hawaii

Payroll employment

• Hawaii added 1,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Hawaii added 1,400 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii added 1,800 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Hawaii added 900 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 4th 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 (+1,400) and Professional and Business Services (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-300) and State and Local Government (+0).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,600) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,800) and Financial Activities (-600).

Hawaii

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 Hawaii rose to 60.8 percent in May from 60.7 percent in the prior month.

• Hawaii is tied for 35th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent in March 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in September 2020.

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