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.

Oklahoma

Employment snapshot

• In May, Oklahoma added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma lost 1,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Oklahoma’s private sector added 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Oklahoma fell by 4,118, and over the past 12 months it fell by 42,223.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate fell to 61.9 percent in May from 62 percent and ranks 30th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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Oklahoma

Payroll employment

• Oklahoma added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,900 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma added 1,800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,000 jobs. Oklahoma 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. Oklahoma is tied for 35th 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 (+1,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,100) and Construction (-200).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+4,900) and Other Services (+3,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,800) and Professional and Business Services (-4,400).

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 61.9 percent in May from 62 percent in the prior month.

• Oklahoma ranks 30th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63.3 percent occurring in November 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

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