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.

Minnesota

Employment snapshot

• In May, Minnesota added 5,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota added 18,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 19,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 3.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Minnesota’s private sector added 5,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 14,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota added 14,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Minnesota fell by 5,995, and over the past 12 months it fell by 51,679.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.2 percent in May from 67.4 percent and is tied for 6th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.1 percentage points.

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Minnesota

Payroll employment

• Minnesota added 5,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Minnesota added 18,500 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota added 5,900 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Minnesota added 14,400 jobs. Minnesota 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. Minnesota is tied for 16th 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 (+2,400) and Construction (+2,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,400) and State and Local Government (-400).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+16,400) and Construction (+8,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-5,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,800).

Minnesota

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 Minnesota fell to 67.2 percent in May from 67.4 percent in the prior month.

• Minnesota is tied for 6th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 70.9 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 67 percent in April 2020.

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