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.

Vermont

Employment snapshot

• In May, Vermont lost 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, Vermont lost 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont lost 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Vermont’s private sector lost 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 1,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont lost 400 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Vermont fell by 1,217, and over the past 12 months it fell by 9,510.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.5 percent in May from 62.7 percent and is tied for 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.7 percentage points.

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Vermont

Payroll employment

• Vermont lost 700 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Vermont lost 400 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont lost 400 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Vermont lost 400 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 40th 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 (+300) and Other Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-400) and Private Education and Health Services (-300).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+1,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-700).

Vermont

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 Vermont fell to 62.5 percent in May from 62.7 percent in the prior month.

• Vermont is tied for 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.3 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 61.6 percent in January 2021.

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