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.

Missouri

Employment snapshot

• In May, Missouri added 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Missouri added 11,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Missouri is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Missouri’s private sector added 2,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri added 11,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Missouri fell by 339, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,661.

• Missouri’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.4 percent in May from 63.5 percent and is tied for 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Missouri

Payroll employment

• Missouri added 3,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Missouri added 11,300 jobs. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Missouri is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Missouri added 2,400 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Missouri added 11,100 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri is tied for 21st 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 Private Education and Health Services (+2,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,100) and Professional and Business Services (-1,700).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+7,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+7,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-5,800) and Federal Government (-5,000).

Missouri

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 Missouri fell to 63.4 percent in May from 63.5 percent in the prior month.

• Missouri is tied for 18th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in May 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.

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