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.
Delaware Employment Snapshot
In May, Delaware lost 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Delaware is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Delaware’s private sector lost 500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,600 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Delaware fell by 809, and over the past 12 months it fell by 613.
Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.9 percent in May from 60.1 percent and ranks 39th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.
Delaware Payroll Employment
Delaware lost 800 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,700 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Delaware is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Delaware lost 500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Delaware added 1,600 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Delaware is tied for 40th 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 Financial Activities (400) and Education and Health Services (100).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities tied with Government (-300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-600).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (3,100) and Government (2,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800) and Professional and Business Services (-1,300).
Delaware 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 Delaware fell to 59.9 percent in May from 60.1 percent in the prior month.
Delaware ranks 39th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.1 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.