May 2026

Released June 23, 2026

Download the full PDF for Oregon

Download the summary PDF for Oregon

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.

Oregon

Employment snapshot

• In May, Oregon added 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon lost 19,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Oregon’s private sector added 3,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 15,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Oregon fell by 1,238, and over the past 12 months it fell by 9,930.

• Oregon’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.4 percent in May from 62.5 percent and ranks 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

---

Oregon

Payroll employment

• Oregon added 3,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oregon added 600 jobs. Oregon 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. Oregon is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oregon added 3,900 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oregon added 500 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Oregon ranks 49th 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 Other Services (+2,000) and Professional and Business Services (+1,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-1,100) and Information (-400).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+7,500) and Other Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-7,500) and Manufacturing (-5,700).

Oregon

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 Oregon fell to 62.4 percent in May from 62.5 percent in the prior month.

• Oregon ranks 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 63 percent occurring in July 2025, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

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