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.
Idaho
Employment snapshot
In May, Idaho added 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Idaho added 5,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 7,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Idaho’s private sector added 3,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho added 5,800 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Idaho fell by 1,349, and over the past 12 months it fell by 4,639.
Idaho’s labor force participation rate fell to 62 percent in May from 62.2 percent and is tied for 28th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.
Idaho
Payroll employment
Idaho added 3,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Idaho added 5,200 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Idaho is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Idaho added 3,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Idaho added 5,800 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Idaho 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 Construction (+2,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Information (-100) and Mining and Logging (-100).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+3,800) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,600).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,700) and Federal Government (-800).
Idaho
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 Idaho fell to 62 percent in May from 62.2 percent in the prior month.
Idaho is tied for 28th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Idaho was 64.5 percent occurring in July 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in May 2026.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.