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.
New Hampshire Employment Snapshot
In May, New Hampshire added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.5 percent. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, New Hampshire added 10,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 1.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. New Hampshire is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, New Hampshire’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 300 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in New Hampshire rose by 2,248, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,980.
New Hampshire’s labor force participation rate rose to 65.6 percent in May from 65.5 percent and is tied for 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.6 percentage points.
New Hampshire Payroll Employment
New Hampshire added 2,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Hampshire lost 100 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
New Hampshire added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, New Hampshire added 300 jobs. New Hampshire 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. New Hampshire is tied for 21st 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 Professional and Business Services tied with Leisure and Hospitality (900) and Financial Activities (400).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-100) and Manufacturing (-300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (7,200) and Government (1,500).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-700) and Manufacturing (-1,300).
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire rose to 65.6 percent in May from 65.5 percent in the prior month.
New Hampshire is tied for 11th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in New Hampshire was 69.1 percent in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 65 percent occurring in July 2023.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.