May 2025 | Released June 24, 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.

Oregon Employment Snapshot

• In May, Oregon lost 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oregon added 19,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

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

• In May, Oregon’s private sector lost 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Oregon fell by 1,077, and over the past 12 months it rose by 187.

• Oregon’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 0.1 percentage points.

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Oregon Payroll Employment

• Oregon lost 1,400 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,000 jobs. Oregon nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

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

• Oregon lost 1,600 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,400 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Oregon is tied for 29th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (1,300) and Education and Health Services (1,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,200) and Construction (-1,700).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (16,300) and Government (5,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,300) and Manufacturing (-6,600).

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 remained unchanged at 62.7 percent in May.

• Oregon is tied for 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 62.8 percent in October 2024, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.

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