United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Alabama Employment Snapshot
In May, Alabama added 3,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 46,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 2.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Alabama ranks 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Alabama’s private sector added 2,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 37,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,100 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Alabama rose by 2,803, and over the past 12 months it rose by 19,648.
Alabama’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.5 percent in May and is tied for 45th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.
Alabama Payroll Employment
Alabama added 3,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,800 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Alabama ranks 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Alabama added 2,000 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Alabama added 7,100 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Alabama ranks 11th 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 Government (1,500) and Manufacturing (1,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-400) and Education and Health Services (-500).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (11,400) and Government (9,400).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Mining and Logging (-400) and Financial Activities (-1,400).
Alabama 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 Alabama remained unchanged at 57.5 percent in May.
Alabama is tied for 45th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 57.7 percent occurring in September 2020, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.