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.
Pennsylvania
Employment snapshot
In May, Pennsylvania added 9,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 12,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 36,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 6,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 40,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 10,900 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Pennsylvania rose by 18,042, and over the past 12 months it rose by 103,159.
Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.3 percent in May from 62.1 percent and ranks 27th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.9 percentage points.
Pennsylvania
Payroll employment
Pennsylvania added 9,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 12,400 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Pennsylvania added 6,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 10,900 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 12th 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 (+4,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,100).
- The worst performing sectors were Construction (-1,700) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+37,200) and Professional and Business Services (+8,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-7,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-7,500).
Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania rose to 62.3 percent in May from 62.1 percent in the prior month.
Pennsylvania ranks 27th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.3 percent occurring in May 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.