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.

Nebraska Employment Snapshot

• In May, Nebraska added 3,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska added 2,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nebraska added 7,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Nebraska’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Nebraska rose by 2,084, and over the past 12 months it rose by 13,301.

• Nebraska’s labor force participation rate rose to 69.3 percent in May from 69.2 percent and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Nebraska Payroll Employment

• Nebraska added 3,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Nebraska added 2,300 jobs. Nebraska 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. Nebraska is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nebraska added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Nebraska added 1,700 jobs. Nebraska 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. Nebraska is tied for 32nd 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 (2,600) and Government (700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-300) and Manufacturing (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (5,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (4,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-2,000) and Professional and Business Services (-3,400).

Nebraska 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 Nebraska rose to 69.3 percent in May from 69.2 percent in the prior month.

• Nebraska ranks 3rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 68.8 percent occurring in March 2024.

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