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.
Iowa
Employment snapshot
In May, Iowa added 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Iowa added 4,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa lost 11,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points from 3.6 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Iowa’s private sector added 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 10,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 4,100 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Iowa fell by 1,804, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,630.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.4 percent in May from 67.5 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
Iowa
Payroll employment
Iowa added 3,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Iowa added 4,200 jobs. Iowa 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. Iowa is tied for 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa added 2,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Iowa added 4,100 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 48th 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 (+1,700) and State and Local Government (+800).
- The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-500) and Construction (-400).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,400) and Construction (+1,700).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-6,100) and Manufacturing (-3,800).
Iowa
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 Iowa fell to 67.4 percent in May from 67.5 percent in the prior month.
Iowa ranks 4th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.2 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.