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 Jersey Employment Snapshot
In May, New Jersey remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8 percent. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Jersey added 25,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, New Jersey’s private sector added 1,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,100 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in New Jersey fell by 6,220, and over the past 12 months it fell by 22,418.
New Jersey’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.8 percent in May from 63.9 percent and ranks 20th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.
New Jersey Payroll Employment
New Jersey remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,000 jobs. New Jersey nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey is tied for 37th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Jersey added 1,300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Jersey added 1,100 jobs. New Jersey private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. New Jersey 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 (4,200) and Professional and Business Services (900).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-1,300) and Education and Health Services (-1,700).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (35,000) and Government (4,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-4,600) and Information (-5,000).
New Jersey 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 Jersey fell to 63.8 percent in May from 63.9 percent in the prior month.
New Jersey ranks 20th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Jersey was 65 percent occurring in June 2023, and the 10-year low was 60.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.