According to the state-by-state employment and unemployment report for May 2026 released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Tuesday the 23rd, the national average unemployment rate was 4.3%, remaining unchanged from both the previous month and the same month last year.

Compared to a month ago, the unemployment rate declined in 6 states, rose in 2 states (Alabama and Kentucky), and remained unchanged in the remaining 42 states.

South Dakota recorded the lowest rate at 2.1%, while Washington D.C. recorded the highest at 6.1%, followed by California at 5.3%.

Compared to April, non-farm payroll employment saw a significant increase in only two states, while the remaining 48 states and Washington D.C. showed little to no change. North Carolina added 17,400 jobs, an increase of 0.3%, and West Virginia added 9,700 jobs, marking a 1.4% growth rate.

Over the past year, four regions saw notable changes in employment levels: North Carolina led with an increase of 61,800 jobs, followed by Nevada with 29,200 additional jobs. Conversely, Virginia experienced the largest decrease with a loss of 50,200 jobs, followed by Washington D.C. with 40,300 jobs lost.

U.S. NNP = Lead Reporter Hong Sung-goo / NNP Special Correspondent info@newsandpost.com