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.

Oklahoma Employment Snapshot

• In May, Oklahoma added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 24,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Oklahoma’s private sector added 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Oklahoma rose by 2,762, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,957.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.6 percent in May from 62.7 percent and ranks 28th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Oklahoma Payroll Employment

• Oklahoma added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,500 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma added 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,900 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 6th 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 (1,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-1,000) and Manufacturing (-1,100).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (10,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (3,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-500) and Mining and Logging (-1,000).

Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma fell to 62.6 percent in May from 62.7 percent in the prior month.

• Oklahoma ranks 28th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63 percent occurring in December 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

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