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 Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In May, North Dakota added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.4 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 2,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 2.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, North Dakota’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 2,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in North Dakota fell by 489, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,475.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 69.8 percent in May from 69.9 percent and is tied for 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 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 lost 2,100 jobs. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 2,000 jobs. North Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 30th 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 (+600) and State and Local Government (+300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700) and Professional and Business Services (-200).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,900) and State and Local Government (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400) and Federal Government (-400).

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 fell to 69.8 percent in May from 69.9 percent in the prior month.

• North Dakota is tied for 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 70.9 percent occurring in April 2017, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in January 2021.

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