May 2025
Released June 24, 2025
Released April 18, 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.
New Hampshire Employment Snapshot
In May, New Hampshire added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.1 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire added 12,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Hampshire ranks 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, New Hampshire’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,300 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in New Hampshire fell by 533, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,583.
New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 65.7 percent in May and ranks 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.
New Hampshire Payroll Employment
New Hampshire added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,300 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire ranks 6th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Hampshire lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 1,300 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 11th 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 Government (1,800) and Other Services (300).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-400).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (8,000) and Government (4,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600) and Manufacturing (-800).
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 65.7 percent in May.
New Hampshire ranks 11th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Hampshire was 69 percent occurring in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.1 percent occurring in November 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.