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.
Maryland
Employment snapshot
In May, Maryland added 5,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Maryland added 4,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Maryland lost 27,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Maryland is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Maryland’s private sector added 5,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 11,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,200 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Maryland rose by 407, and over the past 12 months it fell by 40,857.
Maryland’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 63.9 percent in May and ranks 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Maryland
Payroll employment
Maryland added 5,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maryland added 4,000 jobs. Maryland 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. Maryland is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Maryland added 5,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Maryland added 3,200 jobs. Maryland 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. Maryland 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+3,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+2,200).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+11,100) and State and Local Government (+6,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-22,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-13,800).
Maryland
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 Maryland remained unchanged at 63.9 percent in May.
Maryland ranks 15th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maryland was 69.3 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 63.9 percent occurring in March 2026.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.