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June 05, 2026US EMPLOYMENT, MAY 2026 Monthly change (May 2026 vs April 2026, seasonally adjusted)
US non-farm payroll employment increased 172,000 in May 2026, rising to 159.0 million persons.
The increase of 172,000 in US nonfarm payroll employment was weaker than the revised gain of 179,000 reported for April 2026.
The US unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3% in May 2026. The US unemployment rate has remained at or above 4% since May 2024.
The US participation rate was unchanged at 61.8% in May 2026. The US participation rate had stabilized below levels observed prior to the pandemic and has declined slightly in recent months.
The US employment to population ratio edged up 0.1 percentage point to 59.2% in May 2026. As with the participation rate, the US employment rate remains below pre-pandemic levels and has declined slightly since mid-2023.
Note: Data for October 2025 were not collected due to the federal government shutdown.
Note: Canadian and US labour force statistics refer to different working-age cohorts.
Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics retrieved from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle