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.
Tennessee Employment Snapshot
In May, Tennessee added 3,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Tennessee added 2,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Tennessee added 8,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Tennessee is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Tennessee’s private sector added 4,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Tennessee added 2,300 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Tennessee rose by 5,055, and over the past 12 months it rose by 19,482.
Tennessee’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 59.6 percent in May and is tied for 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
Tennessee Payroll Employment
Tennessee added 3,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Tennessee added 2,600 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee is tied for 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Tennessee added 4,300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Tennessee added 2,300 jobs. Tennessee 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. Tennessee ranks 46th 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 (2,400) and Education and Health Services (1,900).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-1,000) and Construction (-1,700).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (26,100) and Leisure and Hospitality (8,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-5,700) and Professional and Business Services (-18,700).
Tennessee 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 Tennessee remained unchanged at 59.6 percent in May.
Tennessee is tied for 40th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Tennessee was 62 percent occurring in July 2019, and the 10-year low was 58.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.