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.

Indiana Employment Snapshot

• In May, Indiana added 7,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Indiana added 4,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Indiana added 21,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Indiana’s private sector added 8,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 21,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Indiana added 7,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Indiana rose by 7,249, and over the past 12 months it rose by 52,978.

• Indiana’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.7 percent in May and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Indiana Payroll Employment

• Indiana added 7,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Indiana added 4,700 jobs. Indiana 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. Indiana is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Indiana added 8,400 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Indiana added 7,600 jobs. Indiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Indiana is tied for 29th 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 (3,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700) and Government (-900).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (11,600) and Professional and Business Services (5,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-1,800) and Manufacturing (-2,900).

Indiana 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 Indiana remained unchanged at 63.7 percent in May.

• Indiana is tied for 21st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Indiana was 65.2 percent in June 2018, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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