May 2026 | Released June 23, 2026

Download the full PDF for Kentucky

Download the summary PDF for Kentucky

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.

Kentucky

Employment snapshot

• In May, Kentucky lost 3,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky added 900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Kentucky lost 9,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Kentucky’s private sector lost 3,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 7,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky added 800 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Kentucky fell by 4,314, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,657.

• Kentucky’s labor force participation rate fell to 57.5 percent in May from 57.6 percent and ranks 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

---

Kentucky

Payroll employment

• Kentucky lost 3,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Kentucky added 900 jobs. Kentucky nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 41st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Kentucky lost 3,500 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Kentucky added 800 jobs. Kentucky private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Kentucky is tied for 40th 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 State and Local Government (+400) and Professional and Business Services (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,300) and Other Services (-800).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+3,000) and State and Local Government (+1,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-6,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,200).

Kentucky

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 Kentucky fell to 57.5 percent in May from 57.6 percent in the prior month.

• Kentucky ranks 47th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59.1 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 54.7 percent in June 2020.

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