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.

Pennsylvania Employment Snapshot

• In May, Pennsylvania added 2,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 89,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 2,900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 82,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Pennsylvania fell by 5,820, and over the past 12 months it fell by 69,887.

• Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.6 percent in May and ranks 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Pennsylvania Payroll Employment

• Pennsylvania added 2,000 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,100 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Pennsylvania added 2,900 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Pennsylvania added 6,600 jobs. Pennsylvania private sector payroll employment has increased in each of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Pennsylvania 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 Leisure and Hospitality (2,500) and Other Services (2,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,600).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (46,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (15,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-2,000) and Manufacturing (-3,300).

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 remained unchanged at 61.6 percent in May.

• Pennsylvania ranks 34th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.4 percent occurring in March 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.

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