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.
Washington Employment Snapshot
In May, Washington added 16,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.9 percent. In the prior month, Washington added 6,800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Washington added 63,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.1 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Washington is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Washington’s private sector added 15,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 47,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington added 7,000 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Washington fell by 360, and over the past 12 months it fell by 55,562.
Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.7 percent in May from 63.8 percent and ranks 22nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.
Washington Payroll Employment
Washington added 16,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Washington added 6,800 jobs. Washington 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. Washington is tied for 20th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Washington added 15,300 private sector jobs, or 0.5 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Washington added 7,000 jobs. Washington 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. Washington 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 (5,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (4,400).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Mining and Logging (-100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (27,000) and Government (15,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-3,900) and Information (-6,000).
Washington 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 Washington fell to 63.7 percent in May from 63.8 percent in the prior month.
Washington ranks 22nd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 66.2 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.4 percent occurring in January 2021.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.