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.

Rhode Island

Employment snapshot

• In May, Rhode Island lost 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 1,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island lost 4,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Rhode Island’s private sector lost 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 3,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 1,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Rhode Island fell by 1,315, and over the past 12 months it fell by 12,307.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.6 percent in May from 62.9 percent and ranks 23rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.6 percentage points.

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Rhode Island

Payroll employment

• Rhode Island lost 300 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 1,100 jobs. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Rhode Island lost 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Rhode Island lost 1,000 jobs. Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island ranks 47th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+700) and Other Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-700) and Professional and Business Services (-300).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (+600) and Private Education and Health Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,100).

Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island fell to 62.6 percent in May from 62.9 percent in the prior month.

• Rhode Island ranks 23rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 64.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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