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.
Mississippi Employment Snapshot
In May, Mississippi added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 500 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Mississippi added 12,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Mississippi is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Mississippi’s private sector added 1,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 8,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 900 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Mississippi rose by 3,322, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,039.
Mississippi’s labor force participation rate rose to 53.8 percent in May from 53.7 percent and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.
Mississippi Payroll Employment
Mississippi added 1,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 500 jobs. Mississippi 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. Mississippi is tied for 40th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Mississippi added 1,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Mississippi lost 900 jobs. Mississippi 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. Mississippi is tied for 40th 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 (1,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction (-300) and Professional and Business Services (-1,900).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (8,700) and Government (3,400).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-3,600).
Mississippi 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 Mississippi rose to 53.8 percent in May from 53.7 percent in the prior month.
Mississippi ranks 51st in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Mississippi was 56.3 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 52.9 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.