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.
Oregon Employment Snapshot
In May, Oregon added 4,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Oregon added 1,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Oregon ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Oregon’s private sector added 3,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 7,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,900 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Oregon rose by 4,940, and over the past 12 months it rose by 16,894.
Oregon’s labor force participation rate rose to 63 percent in May from 62.9 percent and ranks 25th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.8 percentage points.
Oregon Payroll Employment
Oregon added 4,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oregon added 2,400 jobs. Oregon 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. Oregon ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Oregon added 3,700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Oregon added 1,900 jobs. Oregon private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Oregon ranks 51st 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 Education and Health Services (2,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (14,400) and Government (9,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,700) and Professional and Business Services (-6,600).
Oregon 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 Oregon rose to 63 percent in May from 62.9 percent in the prior month.
Oregon ranks 25th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oregon was 63 percent in May 2024, and the 10-year low was 59.4 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.