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.

North Carolina

Employment snapshot

• In May, North Carolina added 17,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent. In the prior month, North Carolina added 21,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Carolina added 61,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.8 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, North Carolina’s private sector added 16,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 56,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Carolina added 20,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in North Carolina fell by 11,988, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,157.

• North Carolina’s labor force participation rate fell to 58.6 percent in May from 58.8 percent and is tied for 44th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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North Carolina

Payroll employment

• North Carolina added 17,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, North Carolina added 21,400 jobs. North Carolina nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina ranks 2nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Carolina added 16,000 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, North Carolina added 20,600 jobs. North Carolina private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. North Carolina ranks 2nd 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+6,600) and Professional and Business Services (+6,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-2,700) and Financial Activities (-300).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+23,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+17,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-12,600) and Federal Government (-5,200).

North Carolina

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 North Carolina fell to 58.6 percent in May from 58.8 percent in the prior month.

• North Carolina is tied for 44th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Carolina was 61.6 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 56.6 percent in April 2020.

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