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.
California Employment Snapshot
In May, California added 43,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent. In the prior month, California added 4,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, California added 207,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. California is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, California’s private sector added 38,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 148,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, California added 1,200 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in California rose by 9,549, and over the past 12 months it fell by 113,471.
California’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62 percent in May and ranks 34th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.
California Payroll Employment
California added 43,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, California added 4,100 jobs. California nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. California is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
California added 38,100 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, California added 1,200 jobs. California private sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. California is tied for 38th 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 (10,200) and Education and Health Services (9,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,400) and Information (-1,900).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (158,300) and Government (59,400).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-21,600) and Information (-42,600).
California 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 California remained unchanged at 62 percent in May.
California ranks 34th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in California was 63 percent in February 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.6 percent in May 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.