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.
North Dakota Employment Snapshot
In May, North Dakota added 1,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 7,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points from 1.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. North Dakota is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, North Dakota’s private sector added 1,400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in North Dakota rose by 6, and over the past 12 months it rose by 445.
North Dakota’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.9 percent in May from 69 percent and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
North Dakota Payroll Employment
North Dakota added 1,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,900 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
North Dakota added 1,400 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,800 jobs. North Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. North Dakota is tied for 17th 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 (900) and Other Services (300).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities tied with Leisure and Hospitality (-100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (3,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities tied with Government (1,400).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000).
North Dakota 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 North Dakota fell to 68.9 percent in May from 69 percent in the prior month.
North Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 72.1 percent occurring in November 2014, and the 10-year low was 68.4 percent occurring in March 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.