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.
Missouri Employment Snapshot
In May, Missouri added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Missouri added 19,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Missouri added 82,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Missouri ranks 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Missouri’s private sector added 4,000 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 69,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Missouri added 17,400 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Missouri rose by 4,560, and over the past 12 months it rose by 13,832.
Missouri’s labor force participation rate rose to 63.4 percent in May from 63.3 percent and ranks 23rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.2 percentage points.
Missouri Payroll Employment
Missouri added 5,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Missouri added 19,000 jobs. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Missouri ranks 5th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Missouri added 4,000 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Missouri added 17,400 jobs. Missouri 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. Missouri is tied for 5th 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 Government (1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Information tied with Education and Health Services (-500) and Other Services (-900).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (21,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (18,800).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-100) and Professional and Business Services (-1,400).
Missouri 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 Missouri rose to 63.4 percent in May from 63.3 percent in the prior month.
Missouri ranks 23rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Missouri was 64.7 percent occurring in August 2016, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in May 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.