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.

Nevada

Employment snapshot

• In May, Nevada added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Nevada added 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nevada added 29,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Nevada ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Nevada’s private sector added 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 30,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nevada added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Nevada fell by 3,058, and over the past 12 months it rose by 30,916.

• Nevada’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.4 percent in May from 63.6 percent and is tied for 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.

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Nevada

Payroll employment

• Nevada added 800 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Nevada added 600 jobs. Nevada nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Nevada ranks 1st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nevada added 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Nevada added 1,400 jobs. Nevada private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Nevada ranks 1st 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 Professional and Business Services (+2,600) and Manufacturing (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400) and Financial Activities (-700).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+13,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+8,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-2,600) and Federal Government (-1,100).

Nevada

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 Nevada fell to 63.4 percent in May from 63.6 percent in the prior month.

• Nevada is tied for 18th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nevada was 64.4 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in May 2020.

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