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.

Ohio Employment Snapshot

• In May, Ohio lost 6,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Ohio added 21,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Ohio added 55,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

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

• In May, Ohio’s private sector lost 6,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 53,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Ohio added 19,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Ohio fell by 291, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,235.

• Ohio’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.7 percent in May and is tied for 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Ohio Payroll Employment

• Ohio lost 6,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Ohio added 21,200 jobs. Ohio nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

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

• Ohio lost 6,300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Ohio added 19,800 jobs. Ohio 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. Ohio is tied for 17th 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 Education and Health Services (1,400) and Financial Activities (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-3,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-5,200).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (25,500) and Construction (17,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,500).

Ohio 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 Ohio remained unchanged at 62.7 percent in May.

• Ohio is tied for 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 63.6 percent occurring in January 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in April 2020.

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