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.

Vermont Employment Snapshot

• In May, Vermont added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, Vermont lost 600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont added 3,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Vermont’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Vermont fell by 343, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,047.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate fell to 65 percent in May from 65.1 percent and is tied for 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Vermont Payroll Employment

• Vermont added 900 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Vermont lost 600 jobs. Vermont nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont added 900 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Vermont lost 500 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 17th 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 Professional and Business Services (400) and Other Services (300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-200) and Construction (-300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (1,500) and Education and Health Services (1,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-300) and Manufacturing (-800).

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 65 percent in May from 65.1 percent in the prior month.

• Vermont is tied for 15th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.5 percent in May 2015, and the 10-year low was 61.7 percent in November 2020.

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