For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, June 17, 2022 USDL-22-1177
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 2022
Unemployment rates were lower in May in 16 states and stable in 34 states and the
District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. All 50
states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. The
national unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent but was 2.2 percentage points
lower than in May 2021.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 7 states, decreased in 3 states, and was
essentially unchanged in 40 states and the District of Columbia in May 2022. Over
the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 48 states and the District and
was essentially unchanged in 2 states.
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
Nebraska had the lowest jobless rate in May, 1.9 percent. The next lowest rates
were in Minnesota and Utah, 2.0 percent each. The rate in Minnesota set a new series
low, as did the rates in the following eight states (all state series begin in
1976): Alabama (2.7 percent), Alaska (4.7 percent), Georgia (3.0 percent), Idaho
(2.5 percent), Kansas (2.3 percent), Kentucky (3.8 percent), Mississippi (4.0
percent), and West Virginia (3.5 percent). The District of Columbia had the highest
unemployment rate, 5.7 percent, followed by New Mexico, 5.1 percent. In total, 18
states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.6 percent, 9 states
and the District had higher rates, and 23 states had rates that were not appreciably
different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 1.)
In May, 16 states had over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, the largest of
which were in California, Iowa, Missouri, and Rhode Island (-0.3 percentage point
each). Thirty-four 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.)
The largest unemployment rate decrease from May 2021 occurred in California (-3.6
percentage points). The smallest over-the-year jobless rate decline occurred in
Nebraska (-0.6 percentage point). (See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 7 states, decreased in 3 states, and was
essentially unchanged in 40 states and the District of Columbia in May 2022. The
largest job gains occurred in Texas (+74,200), California (+42,900), and New York
(+26,800). The largest percentage increase occurred in West Virginia (+1.3 percent),
followed by Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas (+0.6 percent each). Employment
decreased in Michigan (-14,600, or -0.3 percent), Alaska (-4,400, or -1.4 percent),
and Wyoming (-2,800, or -1.0 percent). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 48 states and the District
of Columbia and was essentially unchanged in 2 states. The largest job increases
occurred in California (+869,300), Texas (+762,400), and Florida (+468,100). The
largest percentage increases occurred in Nevada (+7.1 percent), Texas (+6.1
percent), and Georgia (+5.4 percent). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for May is
scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for June is scheduled
to be released on Friday, July 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., May 2022, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 3.6
|
Alabama .............................| 2.7
Alaska ..............................| 4.7
California ..........................| 4.3
Delaware ............................| 4.5
District of Columbia ................| 5.7
Florida .............................| 3.0
Georgia .............................| 3.0
Idaho ...............................| 2.5
Illinois ............................| 4.6
Indiana .............................| 2.2
|
Iowa ................................| 2.7
Kansas ..............................| 2.3
Minnesota ...........................| 2.0
Montana .............................| 2.4
Nebraska ............................| 1.9
Nevada ..............................| 4.9
New Hampshire .......................| 2.1
New Mexico ..........................| 5.1
New York ............................| 4.4
North Dakota ........................| 2.6
|
Oklahoma ............................| 2.8
Pennsylvania ........................| 4.6
South Dakota ........................| 2.3
Texas ...............................| 4.2
Utah ................................| 2.0
Vermont .............................| 2.3
Virginia ............................| 3.0
Wisconsin ...........................| 2.9
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from April 2022 to May 2022, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | April | May | change(p)
| 2022 | 2022(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
California .....................| 4.6 | 4.3 | -0.3
Connecticut ....................| 4.4 | 4.2 | -.2
Iowa ...........................| 3.0 | 2.7 | -.3
Maine ..........................| 3.3 | 3.2 | -.1
Maryland .......................| 4.2 | 4.0 | -.2
Massachusetts ..................| 4.1 | 3.9 | -.2
Minnesota ......................| 2.2 | 2.0 | -.2
Missouri .......................| 3.4 | 3.1 | -.3
New Hampshire ..................| 2.3 | 2.1 | -.2
New Jersey .....................| 4.1 | 3.9 | -.2
| | |
New Mexico .....................| 5.3 | 5.1 | -.2
North Dakota ...................| 2.8 | 2.6 | -.2
Pennsylvania ...................| 4.8 | 4.6 | -.2
Rhode Island ...................| 3.2 | 2.9 | -.3
Texas ..........................| 4.3 | 4.2 | -.1
Vermont ........................| 2.5 | 2.3 | -.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from May 2021 to May 2022, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | May | May | change(p)
| 2021 | 2022(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 3.6 | 2.7 | -0.9
Alaska .........................| 6.8 | 4.7 | -2.1
Arizona ........................| 5.4 | 3.2 | -2.2
Arkansas .......................| 4.4 | 3.2 | -1.2
California .....................| 7.9 | 4.3 | -3.6
Colorado .......................| 5.8 | 3.5 | -2.3
Connecticut ....................| 6.7 | 4.2 | -2.5
Delaware .......................| 5.7 | 4.5 | -1.2
District of Columbia ...........| 6.9 | 5.7 | -1.2
Florida ........................| 4.9 | 3.0 | -1.9
| | |
Georgia ........................| 4.1 | 3.0 | -1.1
Hawaii .........................| 5.9 | 4.2 | -1.7
Idaho ..........................| 3.7 | 2.5 | -1.2
Illinois .......................| 6.5 | 4.6 | -1.9
Indiana ........................| 4.0 | 2.2 | -1.8
Iowa ...........................| 4.5 | 2.7 | -1.8
Kansas .........................| 3.4 | 2.3 | -1.1
Kentucky .......................| 4.7 | 3.8 | -.9
Louisiana ......................| 5.9 | 4.0 | -1.9
Maine ..........................| 4.9 | 3.2 | -1.7
| | |
Maryland .......................| 5.7 | 4.0 | -1.7
Massachusetts ..................| 5.9 | 3.9 | -2.0
Michigan .......................| 6.2 | 4.3 | -1.9
Minnesota ......................| 3.4 | 2.0 | -1.4
Mississippi ....................| 6.0 | 4.0 | -2.0
Missouri .......................| 4.5 | 3.1 | -1.4
Montana ........................| 3.6 | 2.4 | -1.2
Nebraska .......................| 2.5 | 1.9 | -.6
Nevada .........................| 7.8 | 4.9 | -2.9
New Hampshire ..................| 3.7 | 2.1 | -1.6
| | |
New Jersey .....................| 6.6 | 3.9 | -2.7
New Mexico .....................| 7.2 | 5.1 | -2.1
New York .......................| 7.4 | 4.4 | -3.0
North Carolina .................| 5.0 | 3.4 | -1.6
North Dakota ...................| 3.8 | 2.6 | -1.2
Ohio ...........................| 5.4 | 3.9 | -1.5
Oklahoma .......................| 4.4 | 2.8 | -1.6
Oregon .........................| 5.6 | 3.6 | -2.0
Pennsylvania ...................| 6.7 | 4.6 | -2.1
Rhode Island ...................| 6.0 | 2.9 | -3.1
| | |
South Carolina .................| 4.1 | 3.3 | -.8
South Dakota ...................| 3.2 | 2.3 | -.9
Tennessee ......................| 4.6 | 3.3 | -1.3
Texas ..........................| 5.9 | 4.2 | -1.7
Utah ...........................| 2.8 | 2.0 | -.8
Vermont ........................| 3.6 | 2.3 | -1.3
Virginia .......................| 4.1 | 3.0 | -1.1
Washington .....................| 5.5 | 3.9 | -1.6
West Virginia ..................| 5.4 | 3.5 | -1.9
Wisconsin ......................| 4.1 | 2.9 | -1.2
Wyoming ........................| 4.7 | 3.2 | -1.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
April 2022 to May 2022, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | April | May |---------------------------
| 2022 | 2022(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 2,067,500 | 2,079,600 | 12,100 | 0.6
Alaska .......................| 317,000 | 312,600 | -4,400 | -1.4
California ...................| 17,455,200 | 17,498,100 | 42,900 | .2
Georgia ......................| 4,764,300 | 4,782,400 | 18,100 | .4
Michigan .....................| 4,326,100 | 4,311,500 | -14,600 | -.3
New York .....................| 9,403,500 | 9,430,300 | 26,800 | .3
South Carolina ...............| 2,198,700 | 2,211,100 | 12,400 | .6
Texas ........................| 13,282,900 | 13,357,100 | 74,200 | .6
West Virginia ................| 701,600 | 710,400 | 8,800 | 1.3
Wyoming ......................| 285,600 | 282,800 | -2,800 | -1.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
May 2021 to May 2022, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | May | May |---------------------------
| 2021 | 2022(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 2,034,300 | 2,079,600 | 45,300 | 2.2
Alaska .......................| 305,300 | 312,600 | 7,300 | 2.4
Arizona ......................| 2,939,200 | 3,047,500 | 108,300 | 3.7
Arkansas .....................| 1,274,900 | 1,307,500 | 32,600 | 2.6
California ...................| 16,628,800 | 17,498,100 | 869,300 | 5.2
Colorado .....................| 2,730,800 | 2,855,400 | 124,600 | 4.6
Connecticut ..................| 1,606,300 | 1,648,500 | 42,200 | 2.6
Delaware .....................| 447,800 | 457,400 | 9,600 | 2.1
District of Columbia .........| 734,800 | 766,900 | 32,100 | 4.4
Florida ......................| 8,831,000 | 9,299,100 | 468,100 | 5.3
| | | |
Georgia ......................| 4,538,300 | 4,782,400 | 244,100 | 5.4
Hawaii .......................| 581,300 | 603,100 | 21,800 | 3.8
Idaho ........................| 790,900 | 813,300 | 22,400 | 2.8
Illinois .....................| 5,762,800 | 6,012,500 | 249,700 | 4.3
Indiana ......................| 3,064,600 | 3,181,700 | 117,100 | 3.8
Iowa .........................| 1,530,100 | 1,565,000 | 34,900 | 2.3
Kentucky .....................| 1,889,100 | 1,937,200 | 48,100 | 2.5
Louisiana ....................| 1,869,800 | 1,910,400 | 40,600 | 2.2
Maine ........................| 619,800 | 635,100 | 15,300 | 2.5
Maryland .....................| 2,634,900 | 2,713,400 | 78,500 | 3.0
| | | |
Massachusetts ................| 3,489,300 | 3,665,900 | 176,600 | 5.1
Michigan .....................| 4,160,100 | 4,311,500 | 151,400 | 3.6
Minnesota ....................| 2,840,300 | 2,913,800 | 73,500 | 2.6
Mississippi ..................| 1,129,200 | 1,158,300 | 29,100 | 2.6
Missouri .....................| 2,825,500 | 2,897,300 | 71,800 | 2.5
Montana ......................| 489,000 | 504,800 | 15,800 | 3.2
Nebraska .....................| 1,004,000 | 1,026,200 | 22,200 | 2.2
Nevada .......................| 1,350,300 | 1,446,600 | 96,300 | 7.1
New Hampshire ................| 660,400 | 681,000 | 20,600 | 3.1
New Jersey ...................| 3,992,800 | 4,199,100 | 206,300 | 5.2
| | | |
New Mexico ...................| 806,100 | 845,200 | 39,100 | 4.9
New York .....................| 8,970,300 | 9,430,300 | 460,000 | 5.1
North Carolina ...............| 4,562,900 | 4,728,200 | 165,300 | 3.6
North Dakota .................| 414,900 | 423,600 | 8,700 | 2.1
Ohio .........................| 5,358,100 | 5,479,500 | 121,400 | 2.3
Oklahoma .....................| 1,639,800 | 1,680,000 | 40,200 | 2.5
Oregon .......................| 1,861,700 | 1,948,000 | 86,300 | 4.6
Pennsylvania .................| 5,723,900 | 5,925,500 | 201,600 | 3.5
Rhode Island .................| 478,800 | 496,800 | 18,000 | 3.8
South Carolina ...............| 2,138,900 | 2,211,100 | 72,200 | 3.4
| | | |
South Dakota .................| 438,900 | 448,800 | 9,900 | 2.3
Tennessee ....................| 3,080,700 | 3,215,700 | 135,000 | 4.4
Texas ........................| 12,594,700 | 13,357,100 | 762,400 | 6.1
Utah .........................| 1,606,500 | 1,661,900 | 55,400 | 3.4
Vermont ......................| 293,800 | 299,700 | 5,900 | 2.0
Virginia .....................| 3,919,400 | 4,044,400 | 125,000 | 3.2
Washington ...................| 3,333,100 | 3,491,200 | 158,100 | 4.7
West Virginia ................| 683,900 | 710,400 | 26,500 | 3.9
Wisconsin ....................| 2,878,900 | 2,933,400 | 54,500 | 1.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
