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.
Vermont Employment Snapshot
In May, Vermont lost 100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.1 percent. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Vermont added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 1.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Vermont is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Vermont’s private sector added 400 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 5,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,000 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Vermont rose by 663, and over the past 12 months it rose by 5,554.
Vermont’s labor force participation rate rose to 65.6 percent in May from 65.5 percent and is tied for 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 1 percentage point.
Vermont Payroll Employment
Vermont lost 100 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,200 jobs. Vermont 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. Vermont is tied for 14th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Vermont added 400 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Vermont added 1,000 jobs. Vermont private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Vermont ranks 12th 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 (600) and Construction (100).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-300) and Government (-500).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (2,400) and Education and Health Services (1,500).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-100) and Manufacturing (-800).
Vermont 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 Vermont rose to 65.6 percent in May from 65.5 percent in the prior month.
Vermont is tied for 11th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.9 percent occurring in November 2014, and the 10-year low was 61.9 percent occurring in December 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.