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.
Wisconsin
Employment snapshot
In May, Wisconsin added 8,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.4 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 11,300 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin lost 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 3.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 172,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Wisconsin’s private sector added 6,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 11,200 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Wisconsin rose by 4,065, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,812.
Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 64.4 percent in May and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Wisconsin
Payroll employment
Wisconsin added 8,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 11,300 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Wisconsin added 6,600 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Wisconsin added 11,200 jobs. Wisconsin private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 120,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Wisconsin is tied for 30th 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 (+2,900) and Manufacturing (+2,300).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-1,400) and Other Services (-500).
From May 2025 to May 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Construction (+9,000) and Private Education and Health Services (+8,900).
- The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-13,700) and Manufacturing (-3,700).
Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin remained unchanged at 64.4 percent in May.
Wisconsin ranks 13th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Wisconsin was 68.2 percent occurring in May 2016, and the 10-year low was 64.1 percent occurring in July 2025.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.8 percent in May.