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.

Illinois

Employment snapshot

• In May, Illinois added 6,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Illinois added 11,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Illinois lost 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Illinois’s private sector added 4,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 6,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Illinois added 11,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Illinois fell by 11,709, and over the past 12 months it fell by 97,870.

• Illinois’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.7 percent in May from 63.8 percent and ranks 16th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Illinois

Payroll employment

• Illinois added 6,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Illinois added 11,400 jobs. Illinois nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Illinois added 4,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Illinois added 11,400 jobs. Illinois private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Illinois is tied for 37th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,700) and Manufacturing (+2,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-3,300) and Other Services (-600).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+18,800) and State and Local Government (+8,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-17,900) and Financial Activities (-11,800).

Illinois

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 Illinois fell to 63.7 percent in May from 63.8 percent in the prior month.

• Illinois ranks 16th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Illinois was 65.5 percent in May 2016, and the 10-year low was 61.8 percent in June 2020.

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