U.S. unemployment rates were lower in six states and higher in seven, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics release for May 2026. The national rate stood at 4.3 percent. South Dakota recorded the lowest state rate at 2.1 percent, while the District of Columbia posted the highest at 6.1 percent, followed by California at 5.3 percent. Eighteen states reported rates below the national figure, seven were above it, and 25 were not markedly different. Over the year, 16 states saw rate increases, with Connecticut gaining 1.3 percentage points and Florida 1.1 points. Six states experienced decreases, the largest being Ohio’s drop of 1.0 point. Twenty‑eight states and the District had rates essentially unchanged from May 2025. The data are seasonally adjusted and preliminary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Materials reproduced from www.bls.gov.
No endorsement by BLS is implied.
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