May 2025 | Released June 24, 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.

Michigan Employment Snapshot

• In May, Michigan added 10,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.4 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 15,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 48,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Michigan ranks 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Michigan’s private sector added 10,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 40,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 14,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Michigan fell by 5,359, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,692.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.9 percent in May from 62 percent and ranks 33rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Michigan Payroll Employment

• Michigan added 10,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Michigan added 15,900 jobs. Michigan nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Michigan ranks 17th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan added 10,500 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Michigan added 14,300 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 21st 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 Leisure and Hospitality (5,300) and Construction (4,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-2,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (19,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (11,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-6,200) and Manufacturing (-10,900).

Michigan 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 Michigan fell to 61.9 percent in May from 62 percent in the prior month.

• Michigan ranks 33rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.

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