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Nonfarm payroll employment up in 30 states from May 2023 to May 2024

July 02, 2024

From May 2023 to May 2024, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 30 states and was essentially unchanged in 20 states and the District of the Columbia. The largest percentage increases occurred in Alaska and South Carolina (+3.5 percent each), followed by Nevada (+3.3 percent).
Change in nonfarm employment by state, May 2023 to May 2024
State Percent change May 2023 employment May 2024 employment Net change Statistically significant

Alabama

 2.2 2,158,200 2,204,800 46,600 Yes

Alaska

 3.5 325,100 336,500 11,400 Yes

Arizona

 2.3 3,188,100 3,263,000 74,900 Yes

Arkansas

 1.2 1,350,500 1,366,700 16,200 No

California

 1.2 17,826,200 18,033,900 207,700 Yes

Colorado

 1.9 2,935,700 2,991,100 55,400 Yes

Connecticut

 1.1 1,693,000 1,711,000 18,000 No

Delaware

 1.2 483,300 489,200 5,900 No

District of Columbia

 0.9 767,900 775,100 7,200 No

Florida

 2.3 9,729,400 9,951,600 222,200 Yes

Georgia

 1.5 4,899,800 4,973,700 73,900 Yes

Hawaii

 0.6 633,200 637,100 3,900 No

Idaho

 3.1 845,100 871,000 25,900 Yes

Illinois

 0.7 6,107,100 6,151,000 43,900 No

Indiana

 1.4 3,235,300 3,280,500 45,200 Yes

Iowa

 1.5 1,587,500 1,611,300 23,800 Yes

Kansas

 1.7 1,440,100 1,464,100 24,000 Yes

Kentucky

 1.3 2,015,100 2,042,000 26,900 Yes

Louisiana

 0.3 1,955,300 1,961,200 5,900 No

Maine

 1.4 647,300 656,600 9,300 No

Maryland

 0.2 2,750,100 2,756,900 6,800 No

Massachusetts

 0.6 3,712,700 3,733,900 21,200 No

Michigan

 0.9 4,462,300 4,503,700 41,400 No

Minnesota

 1.2 2,981,400 3,016,100 34,700 Yes

Mississippi

 1.0 1,179,100 1,191,300 12,200 No

Missouri

 2.8 2,968,800 3,050,800 82,000 Yes

Montana

 2.7 518,600 532,400 13,800 Yes

Nebraska

 2.1 1,047,000 1,068,500 21,500 Yes

Nevada

 3.3 1,534,400 1,585,600 51,200 Yes

New Hampshire

 1.5 698,000 708,400 10,400 No

New Jersey

 1.9 4,313,500 4,393,700 80,200 Yes

New Mexico

 1.8 870,600 886,200 15,600 Yes

New York

 1.6 9,707,800 9,861,600 153,800 Yes

North Carolina

 1.5 4,934,400 5,006,800 72,400 Yes

North Dakota

 1.6 436,000 443,100 7,100 No

Ohio

 0.9 5,613,100 5,662,600 49,500 No

Oklahoma

 1.6 1,752,100 1,780,900 28,800 Yes

Oregon

 0.1 1,980,400 1,981,700 1,300 No

Pennsylvania

 1.6 6,070,600 6,167,700 97,100 Yes

Rhode Island

 1.6 504,300 512,600 8,300 No

South Carolina

 3.5 2,293,100 2,373,500 80,400 Yes

South Dakota

 1.8 460,200 468,500 8,300 No

Tennessee

 0.2 3,325,800 3,333,800 8,000 No

Texas

 2.3 13,878,900 14,195,600 316,700 Yes

Utah

 2.1 1,718,700 1,755,300 36,600 Yes

Vermont

 1.9 308,900 314,800 5,900 Yes

Virginia

 2.0 4,164,000 4,245,500 81,500 Yes

Washington

 1.7 3,600,300 3,663,300 63,000 Yes

West Virginia

 1.9 708,600 721,800 13,200 Yes

Wisconsin

 1.0 3,008,700 3,037,400 28,700 No

Wyoming

 1.1 291,100 294,300 3,200 No

Puerto Rico

 1.8 942,000 959,300 17,300 No

In May 2024, 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.
State unemployment rates, May 2024
State May 2024 unemployment rate (percent) May 2023 unemployment rate (percent) 12-month change (percentage points)

Alabama

 3.0 2.3 0.7

Alaska

 4.5 4.0 0.5

Arizona

 3.4 3.7 -0.3

Arkansas

 3.4 2.9 0.5

California

 5.2 4.5 0.7

Colorado

 3.8 3.1 0.7

Connecticut

 4.3 3.3 1.0

Delaware

 3.9 3.8 0.1

District of Columbia

 5.3 4.8 0.5

Florida

 3.3 2.8 0.5

Georgia

 3.2 3.2 0.0

Hawaii

 3.0 2.8 0.2

Idaho

 3.3 2.9 0.4

Illinois

 4.9 4.2 0.7

Indiana

 3.7 3.2 0.5

Iowa

 2.8 2.8 0.0

Kansas

 2.9 2.6 0.3

Kentucky

 4.6 4.1 0.5

Louisiana

 4.1 3.4 0.7

Maine

 3.0 2.5 0.5

Maryland

 2.7 1.9 0.8

Massachusetts

 3.0 3.3 -0.3

Michigan

 3.9 3.6 0.3

Minnesota

 2.8 2.9 -0.1

Mississippi

 2.8 3.1 -0.3

Missouri

 3.5 2.9 0.6

Montana

 3.1 2.6 0.5

Nebraska

 2.5 2.1 0.4

Nevada

 5.1 5.0 0.1

New Hampshire

 2.5 1.8 0.7

New Jersey

 4.6 4.2 0.4

New Mexico

 3.8 3.6 0.2

New York

 4.2 3.9 0.3

North Carolina

 3.6 3.3 0.3

North Dakota

 2.0 1.8 0.2

Ohio

 4.2 3.3 0.9

Oklahoma

 3.5 3.0 0.5

Oregon

 4.2 3.4 0.8

Pennsylvania

 3.4 3.3 0.1

Rhode Island

 4.3 2.6 1.7

South Carolina

 3.4 2.9 0.5

South Dakota

 2.0 1.9 0.1

Tennessee

 3.0 3.1 -0.1

Texas

 4.0 4.0 0.0

Utah

 2.9 2.5 0.4

Vermont

 2.1 1.7 0.4

Virginia

 2.7 2.6 0.1

Washington

 4.9 3.8 1.1

West Virginia

 4.2 3.6 0.6

Wisconsin

 2.9 2.9 0.0

Wyoming

 2.9 2.8 0.1

From May 2023 to May 2024, 33 states and the District had unemployment rate increases, 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.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics programs and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "State Employment and Unemployment — May 2024." We also have more charts and maps related to state employment and unemployment.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Nonfarm payroll employment up in 30 states from May 2023 to May 2024 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/nonfarm-payroll-employment-up-in-30-states-from-may-2023-to-may-2024.htm (visited January 25, 2025).

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