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.

Utah

Employment snapshot

• In May, Utah added 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.7 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 6,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Utah added 17,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Utah ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Utah’s private sector added 3,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 16,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah added 5,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Utah fell by 2,798, and over the past 12 months it fell by 16,995.

• Utah’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.5 percent in May from 66.8 percent and ranks 8th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.5 percentage points.

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Utah

Payroll employment

• Utah added 3,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Utah added 6,600 jobs. Utah 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. Utah ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Utah added 3,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Utah added 5,800 jobs. Utah private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Utah is tied for 4th 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 Construction (+900) and Private Education and Health Services (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-400) and Leisure and Hospitality (-200).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+7,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+6,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-4,300) and Manufacturing (-1,500).

Utah

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 Utah fell to 66.5 percent in May from 66.8 percent in the prior month.

• Utah ranks 8th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Utah was 69.2 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 66.5 percent in May 2026.

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