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.

West Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In May, West Virginia added 9,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia added 7,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. West Virginia ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In May, West Virginia’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In May, employment in West Virginia fell by 812, and over the past 12 months it fell by 7,511.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 54 percent in May from 54.1 percent and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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West Virginia

Payroll employment

• West Virginia added 9,700 net payroll jobs, or 1.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,200 jobs. West Virginia 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. West Virginia ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• West Virginia added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, West Virginia added 1,300 jobs. West Virginia 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. West Virginia is tied for 21st 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 State and Local Government (+9,500) and Professional and Business Services (+600).
• The worst performing sectors were Construction (-1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200).

From May 2025 to May 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+7,700) and Private Education and Health Services (+3,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,400) and Mining and Logging (-900).

West Virginia

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 West Virginia fell to 54 percent in May from 54.1 percent in the prior month.

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.3 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 52.7 percent in April 2020.

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