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.
Louisiana
Employment snapshot
In May, Louisiana added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Louisiana added 4,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Louisiana added 16,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Louisiana’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 15,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Louisiana added 4,000 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Louisiana fell by 1,146, and over the past 12 months it rose by 28,184.
Louisiana’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 58.8 percent in May and ranks 43rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.9 percentage points.
Louisiana
Payroll employment
Louisiana added 900 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Louisiana added 4,100 jobs. Louisiana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Louisiana added 700 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Louisiana added 4,000 jobs. Louisiana private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Louisiana is tied for 7th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,600) and Manufacturing (+600).
- The worst performing sectors were Construction (-1,300) and Professional and Business Services (-600).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+7,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,600) and Federal Government (-2,000).
Louisiana
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 Louisiana remained unchanged at 58.8 percent in May.
Louisiana ranks 43rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Louisiana was 59.4 percent in May 2016, and the 10-year low was 55.2 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.