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.

Mississippi

Employment snapshot

• In May, Mississippi added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi added 3,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 6,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.9 percent.

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

• In May, Mississippi’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 6,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Mississippi added 4,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Mississippi fell by 1,144, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,126.

• Mississippi’s labor force participation rate fell to 55.3 percent in May from 55.4 percent and ranks 50th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Mississippi

Payroll employment

• Mississippi added 1,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Mississippi added 3,500 jobs. Mississippi nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

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

• Mississippi added 900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Mississippi added 4,000 jobs. Mississippi private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Mississippi is tied for 12th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,800) and Professional and Business Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-1,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+3,800) and State and Local Government (+2,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,500) and Manufacturing (-1,000).

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 fell to 55.3 percent in May from 55.4 percent in the prior month.

• Mississippi ranks 50th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Mississippi was 56.4 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 53 percent in April 2020.

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