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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In May, Washington added 7,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, Washington’s private sector added 6,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in Washington rose by 3,113, and over the past 12 months it fell by 11,051.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in May and is tied for 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington added 7,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Washington added 300 jobs. Washington nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 28th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington added 6,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Washington added 100 jobs. Washington private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Washington 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 (+3,400) and Manufacturing (+1,400).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-700) and Private Education and Health Services (-500).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+4,900) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-6,000) and Financial Activities (-3,600).

Washington

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 Washington remained unchanged at 62.5 percent in May.

• Washington is tied for 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 65.9 percent in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.5 percent occurring in March 2026.

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