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.
Kentucky Employment Snapshot
In May, Kentucky added 3,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.6 percent. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Kentucky added 26,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 4.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Kentucky ranks 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Kentucky’s private sector added 3,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 20,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Kentucky added 4,100 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Kentucky rose by 5,258, and over the past 12 months it rose by 1,984.
Kentucky’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.2 percent in May from 57.1 percent and is tied for 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Kentucky Payroll Employment
Kentucky added 3,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Kentucky added 3,900 jobs. Kentucky 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. Kentucky ranks 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Kentucky added 3,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Kentucky added 4,100 jobs. Kentucky 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. Kentucky is tied for 30th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (900) and Professional and Business Services (800).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-100) and Manufacturing (-200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (15,600) and Government (6,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,000).
Kentucky 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 Kentucky rose to 57.2 percent in May from 57.1 percent in the prior month.
Kentucky is tied for 47th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Kentucky was 59 percent occurring in June 2017, and the 10-year low was 54.6 percent in June 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.