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.
Idaho Employment Snapshot
In May, Idaho added 7,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Idaho added 25,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Idaho ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Idaho’s private sector added 7,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 19,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,400 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Idaho rose by 1,363, and over the past 12 months it rose by 11,941.
Idaho’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.7 percent in May and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Idaho Payroll Employment
Idaho added 7,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.9 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,500 jobs. Idaho nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Idaho ranks 4th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Idaho added 7,300 private sector jobs, or 1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Idaho lost 1,400 jobs. Idaho private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Idaho ranks 4th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (1,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging (-100) and Information (-200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (6,000) and Education and Health Services (5,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-300) and Other Services (-900).
Idaho 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 Idaho remained unchanged at 62.7 percent in May.
Idaho is tied for 29th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Idaho was 64.5 percent in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.6 percent occurring in March 2024.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.