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.

New Hampshire

Employment snapshot

• In May, New Hampshire lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 3,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire lost 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, New Hampshire’s private sector remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 2,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in New Hampshire rose by 305, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,821.

• New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.2 percent in May and ranks 12th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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New Hampshire

Payroll employment

• New Hampshire lost 400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 3,000 jobs. New Hampshire nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 43rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• New Hampshire remained unchanged with 0 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 2,900 jobs. New Hampshire private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire ranks 39th 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 (+900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-600) and Construction (-600).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+1,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,100) and State and Local Government (-1,300).

New Hampshire

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 New Hampshire remained unchanged at 65.2 percent in May.

• New Hampshire ranks 12th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Hampshire was 69 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.1 percent in October 2021.

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