May 2025
Released June 24, 2025
Released April 18, 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.
Mississippi Employment Snapshot
In May, Mississippi added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi added 2,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 14,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.2 percentage points from 2.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Mississippi’s private sector added 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 11,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Mississippi added 3,000 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Mississippi fell by 609, and over the past 12 months it rose by 14,975.
Mississippi’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 56.2 percent in May and ranks 50th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 1.2 percentage points.
Mississippi Payroll Employment
Mississippi added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Mississippi added 2,600 jobs. Mississippi nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Mississippi added 500 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Mississippi added 3,000 jobs. Mississippi private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 14th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,000) and Construction (700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-700) and Professional and Business Services (-700).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (7,700) and Government (2,500).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-900) and Manufacturing (-1,200).
Mississippi 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 Mississippi remained unchanged at 56.2 percent in May.
Mississippi ranks 50th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Mississippi was 56.4 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 53 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.