May 2026 | Released June 23, 2026

Download the full PDF for Ohio

Download the summary PDF for Ohio

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.

Ohio

Employment snapshot

• In May, Ohio lost 2,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Ohio added 8,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Ohio added 11,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 1 percentage points from 4.7 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Ohio’s private sector lost 3,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 15,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Ohio added 7,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Ohio fell by 1,608, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,875.

• Ohio’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.8 percent in May from 61.9 percent and ranks 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

---

Ohio

Payroll employment

• Ohio lost 2,400 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Ohio added 8,100 jobs. Ohio nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Ohio lost 3,100 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Ohio added 7,800 jobs. Ohio private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 25th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+1,200) and Manufacturing (+1,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,800) and Construction (-900).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+10,000) and Construction (+7,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-5,500) and Other Services (-3,600).

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 fell to 61.8 percent in May from 61.9 percent in the prior month.

• Ohio ranks 31st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 63.6 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in April 2020.

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