May 2025 | Released June 24, 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.

North Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In May, North Dakota added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.5 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 4,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 2.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, North Dakota’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in North Dakota rose by 398, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,163.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 69.5 percent in May and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points.

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North Dakota Payroll Employment

• North Dakota added 500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, North Dakota added 300 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, North Dakota added 200 jobs. North Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 35th 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 (600) and Construction (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-200) and Other Services (-300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (2,500) and Education and Health Services (2,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-700) and Manufacturing (-800).

North Dakota 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 Dakota remained unchanged at 69.5 percent in May.

• North Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 70.9 percent occurring in May 2017, and the 10-year low was 68.5 percent occurring in August 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.