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.

Rhode Island Employment Snapshot

• In May, Rhode Island added 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Rhode Island added 4,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Rhode Island’s private sector added 1,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 4,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Rhode Island remained unchanged with 0 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Rhode Island fell by 390, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,143.

• Rhode Island’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.7 percent in May from 63.8 percent and is tied for 21st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.

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Rhode Island Payroll Employment

• Rhode Island added 1,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Rhode Island added 100 jobs. Rhode Island nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 26th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Rhode Island added 1,600 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Rhode Island remained unchanged with 0 jobs. Rhode Island private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Rhode Island is tied for 26th 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 Education and Health Services (1,000) and Professional and Business Services (600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-300) and Government (-500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (2,700) and Education and Health Services (1,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Other Services (-100) and Information (-400).

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 63.7 percent in May from 63.8 percent in the prior month.

• Rhode Island is tied for 21st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Rhode Island was 65 percent in May 2015, and the 10-year low was 60.9 percent in April 2020.

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