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.
Tennessee
Employment snapshot
In May, Tennessee added 5,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Tennessee added 1,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Tennessee is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Tennessee’s private sector added 4,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 9,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee added 3,600 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Tennessee fell by 4,938, and over the past 12 months it fell by 30,210.
Tennessee’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.6 percent in May from 59.7 percent and ranks 39th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.
Tennessee
Payroll employment
Tennessee added 5,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Tennessee added 1,600 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Tennessee added 4,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Tennessee added 3,600 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 25th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+2,200) and State and Local Government (+1,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-1,000) and Other Services (-500).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+9,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+4,800).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,700) and Federal Government (-3,600).
Tennessee
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 Tennessee fell to 59.6 percent in May from 59.7 percent in the prior month.
Tennessee ranks 39th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Tennessee was 61.9 percent occurring in April 2019, and the 10-year low was 58.8 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.