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.
Utah Employment Snapshot
In May, Utah added 3,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.9 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 5,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Utah added 36,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.5 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Utah is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Utah’s private sector added 2,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 24,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah added 5,200 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Utah fell by 3,607, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,627.
Utah’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.7 percent in May from 68.9 percent and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.
Utah Payroll Employment
Utah added 3,600 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Utah added 5,600 jobs. Utah 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. Utah is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Utah added 2,800 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Utah added 5,200 jobs. Utah 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. Utah ranks 16th 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 (2,300) and Government (800).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-800).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (12,000) and Education and Health Services (11,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information tied with Professional and Business Services (0) and Financial Activities (-400).
Utah 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 Utah fell to 68.7 percent in May from 68.9 percent in the prior month.
Utah ranks 3rd in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Utah was 69.7 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 67.3 percent occurring in June 2014.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.