For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, June 25, 2024 USDL-24-1207
Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 * sminfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- MAY 2024
Unemployment rates were lower in May in 4 states, higher in 3 states, and stable in 43
states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Thirty-three states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier,
2 states had decreases, and 15 states had little change. The national unemployment rate
changed little at 4.0 percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in May 2023.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 7 states and the District of Columbia and was
essentially unchanged in 43 states in May 2024. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment
increased in 30 states and was essentially unchanged in 20 states and the District.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force
and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data
pertain to individuals by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment
survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data
pertain to jobs on payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more
information about the concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs,
see the Technical Note.
Unemployment
North Dakota and South Dakota had the lowest jobless rates in May, 2.0 percent each.
The next lowest rate was in Vermont, 2.1 percent. The rates in Arizona (3.4 percent)
and Tennessee (3.0 percent) set new series lows. (All state series begin in 1976.)
The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 5.3 percent, closely followed
by California, 5.2 percent, and Nevada, 5.1 percent. In total, 24 states had unemployment
rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.0 percent, 4 states and the District had higher
rates, and 22 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.
(See tables A and 1.)
Four states had unemployment rate decreases in May: Arizona (-0.2 percentage point) and
California, Maine, and Virginia (-0.1 point each). Three states had rate increases: Ohio
(+0.2 percentage point) and Kansas and Massachusetts (+0.1 point each). Forty-three states
and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that were not notably different from those
of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the
significant changes. (See table B.)
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from May
2023, the largest of which was in Rhode Island (+1.7 percentage points). Arizona and
Massachusetts had the only over-the-year rate decreases (-0.3 percentage point each).
Fifteen states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year
earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant
changes. (See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 7 states and the District of Columbia and was
essentially unchanged in 43 states in May 2024. The largest job gains occurred in California
(+43,700), Texas (+41,800), and Ohio (+21,200). The largest percentage increases occurred in
Idaho (+0.9 percent) and the District of Columbia (+0.6 percent), followed by New Jersey, Ohio,
and Washington (+0.4 percent each). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 30 states and was essentially unchanged
in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+316,700),
Florida (+222,200), and California (+207,700). The largest percentage increases occurred in Alaska
and South Carolina (+3.5 percent each), followed by Nevada (+3.3 percent). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for May is scheduled to be released
on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and Unemployment news release
for June is scheduled to be released on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., May 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 4.0
|
Alabama .............................| 3.0
California ..........................| 5.2
District of Columbia ................| 5.3
Florida .............................| 3.3
Georgia .............................| 3.2
Hawaii ..............................| 3.0
Idaho ...............................| 3.3
Illinois ............................| 4.9
Iowa ................................| 2.8
Kansas ..............................| 2.9
|
Maine ...............................| 3.0
Maryland ............................| 2.7
Massachusetts .......................| 3.0
Minnesota ...........................| 2.8
Mississippi .........................| 2.8
Montana .............................| 3.1
Nebraska ............................| 2.5
Nevada ..............................| 5.1
New Hampshire .......................| 2.5
North Dakota ........................| 2.0
|
Pennsylvania ........................| 3.4
South Dakota ........................| 2.0
Tennessee ...........................| 3.0
Utah ................................| 2.9
Vermont .............................| 2.1
Virginia ............................| 2.7
Washington ..........................| 4.9
Wisconsin ...........................| 2.9
Wyoming .............................| 2.9
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from April 2024 to May 2024, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | April | May | change(p)
| 2024 | 2024(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ........................| 3.6 | 3.4 | -0.2
California .....................| 5.3 | 5.2 | -.1
Kansas .........................| 2.8 | 2.9 | .1
Maine ..........................| 3.1 | 3.0 | -.1
Massachusetts ..................| 2.9 | 3.0 | .1
Ohio ...........................| 4.0 | 4.2 | .2
Virginia .......................| 2.8 | 2.7 | -.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from May 2023 to May 2024, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | May | May | change(p)
| 2023 | 2024(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 2.3 | 3.0 | 0.7
Alaska .........................| 4.0 | 4.5 | .5
Arizona ........................| 3.7 | 3.4 | -.3
Arkansas .......................| 2.9 | 3.4 | .5
California .....................| 4.5 | 5.2 | .7
Colorado .......................| 3.1 | 3.8 | .7
Connecticut ....................| 3.3 | 4.3 | 1.0
District of Columbia ...........| 4.8 | 5.3 | .5
Florida ........................| 2.8 | 3.3 | .5
Idaho ..........................| 2.9 | 3.3 | .4
| | |
Illinois .......................| 4.2 | 4.9 | .7
Indiana ........................| 3.2 | 3.7 | .5
Kansas .........................| 2.6 | 2.9 | .3
Kentucky .......................| 4.1 | 4.6 | .5
Louisiana ......................| 3.4 | 4.1 | .7
Maine ..........................| 2.5 | 3.0 | .5
Maryland .......................| 1.9 | 2.7 | .8
Massachusetts ..................| 3.3 | 3.0 | -.3
Michigan .......................| 3.6 | 3.9 | .3
Missouri .......................| 2.9 | 3.5 | .6
| | |
Montana ........................| 2.6 | 3.1 | .5
Nebraska .......................| 2.1 | 2.5 | .4
New Hampshire ..................| 1.8 | 2.5 | .7
New Jersey .....................| 4.2 | 4.6 | .4
New York .......................| 3.9 | 4.2 | .3
North Carolina .................| 3.3 | 3.6 | .3
North Dakota ...................| 1.8 | 2.0 | .2
Ohio ...........................| 3.3 | 4.2 | .9
Oklahoma .......................| 3.0 | 3.5 | .5
Oregon .........................| 3.4 | 4.2 | .8
| | |
Rhode Island ...................| 2.6 | 4.3 | 1.7
South Carolina .................| 2.9 | 3.4 | .5
Utah ...........................| 2.5 | 2.9 | .4
Vermont ........................| 1.7 | 2.1 | .4
Washington .....................| 3.8 | 4.9 | 1.1
West Virginia ..................| 3.6 | 4.2 | .6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
April 2024 to May 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | April | May |---------------------------
| 2024 | 2024(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California ...................| 17,990,200 | 18,033,900 | 43,700 | 0.2
District of Columbia .........| 770,100 | 775,100 | 5,000 | .6
Idaho ........................| 863,400 | 871,000 | 7,600 | .9
New Jersey ...................| 4,377,200 | 4,393,700 | 16,500 | .4
Ohio .........................| 5,641,400 | 5,662,600 | 21,200 | .4
Pennsylvania .................| 6,147,900 | 6,167,700 | 19,800 | .3
Texas ........................| 14,153,800 | 14,195,600 | 41,800 | .3
Washington ...................| 3,647,300 | 3,663,300 | 16,000 | .4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
May 2023 to May 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | May | May |---------------------------
| 2023 | 2024(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 2,158,200 | 2,204,800 | 46,600 | 2.2
Alaska .......................| 325,100 | 336,500 | 11,400 | 3.5
Arizona ......................| 3,188,100 | 3,263,000 | 74,900 | 2.3
California ...................| 17,826,200 | 18,033,900 | 207,700 | 1.2
Colorado .....................| 2,935,700 | 2,991,100 | 55,400 | 1.9
Florida ......................| 9,729,400 | 9,951,600 | 222,200 | 2.3
Georgia ......................| 4,899,800 | 4,973,700 | 73,900 | 1.5
Idaho ........................| 845,100 | 871,000 | 25,900 | 3.1
Indiana ......................| 3,235,300 | 3,280,500 | 45,200 | 1.4
Iowa .........................| 1,587,500 | 1,611,300 | 23,800 | 1.5
| | | |
Kansas .......................| 1,440,100 | 1,464,100 | 24,000 | 1.7
Kentucky .....................| 2,015,100 | 2,042,000 | 26,900 | 1.3
Minnesota ....................| 2,981,400 | 3,016,100 | 34,700 | 1.2
Missouri .....................| 2,968,800 | 3,050,800 | 82,000 | 2.8
Montana ......................| 518,600 | 532,400 | 13,800 | 2.7
Nebraska .....................| 1,047,000 | 1,068,500 | 21,500 | 2.1
Nevada .......................| 1,534,400 | 1,585,600 | 51,200 | 3.3
New Jersey ...................| 4,313,500 | 4,393,700 | 80,200 | 1.9
New Mexico ...................| 870,600 | 886,200 | 15,600 | 1.8
New York .....................| 9,707,800 | 9,861,600 | 153,800 | 1.6
| | | |
North Carolina ...............| 4,934,400 | 5,006,800 | 72,400 | 1.5
Oklahoma .....................| 1,752,100 | 1,780,900 | 28,800 | 1.6
Pennsylvania .................| 6,070,600 | 6,167,700 | 97,100 | 1.6
South Carolina ...............| 2,293,100 | 2,373,500 | 80,400 | 3.5
Texas ........................| 13,878,900 | 14,195,600 | 316,700 | 2.3
Utah .........................| 1,718,700 | 1,755,300 | 36,600 | 2.1
Vermont ......................| 308,900 | 314,800 | 5,900 | 1.9
Virginia .....................| 4,164,000 | 4,245,500 | 81,500 | 2.0
Washington ...................| 3,600,300 | 3,663,300 | 63,000 | 1.7
West Virginia ................| 708,600 | 721,800 | 13,200 | 1.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
