Employment Trends
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
The unemployment rate was unchanged, and nonfarm payroll increased by 172,000 in May. Leisure and hospitality, local government and healthcare saw increases, while employment declined in financial activities.
The labor force participation rate was unchanged at 61.8%. Average hourly earnings increased by 12 cents (0.3%) to $37.53. The average workweek held at 34.3 hours.
According to the American Staffing Association, temporary help employment was 1.57% of total nonfarm employment in May.
Major Industry Employment
Notable Gains and Losses
- Leisure and Hospitality: +70,000
- Government: +52,000
- Healthcare and Social Assistance: +47,200
- Construction: +17,000
- Manufacturing: +7,000
- Financial Activities: -22,000
Read the full report at BLS.gov.
Monthly revisions may occur due to additional reports received since the latest published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors. For more information, visit BLS.gov.
Workforce and Economic News
5 Trends Shaping Skills Development
HR Dive – June 2, 2026
Employers are intensifying their focus on closing skills gaps as digital transformation accelerates, with 83% of HR and IT leaders calling skills development imperative amid a shallow external talent pool. To stay competitive, many organizations are shifting hiring strategies inward, investing more in upskilling programs and prioritizing high-demand capabilities such as digital fluency, data analytics, and project management.
Gen Z Is Reshaping the Workplace. Leadership Must Evolve.
CEO World – June 6, 2026
With Gen Z steadily entering management pipelines, leadership evolution is no longer optional; organizations that modernize leadership capabilities will be better positioned to innovate, align teams, and compete for scarce talent in a rapidly changing job market.
Hilton Unveils New Workplace Research Showing That Even as AI Is Reshaping Work, the Real Advantage Is Human
Business Wire – June 4, 2026
As AI reshapes work, new research from Hilton finds that human-centered factors—like purpose, mentorship, and emotionally intelligent leadership—are the strongest drivers of productivity and retention. For leaders, investing in a people-first culture and relationships will be critical to attracting talent and sustaining performance.
America Employed
Insights from Express Employment International
Most Job Seekers Know What Can Cost Them a Job but Are Less Certain What Actually Gets Them Hired
ExpressPros.com – May 27, 2026
With ongoing volatility in the U.S. job market, many job seekers are focused on how to separate themselves from the competition. But a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey shows candidates are more likely to identify what could cost them a job than the factors that improve their chances of getting hired.
New Express Survey: Rising Skill Demands Squeeze Entry-Level Hiring, Shrinking Talent Pipelines
ExpressPros.com – May 13, 2026
Entry-level work has long been the first rung on America’s economic ladder, but new research from an Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey suggests that rung is slipping away, creating ripple effects that extend beyond today’s job seekers to the workforce of the future. A new white paper, “Sounding the Alarm: The Narrowing Path to Work,” examines how higher skill demands, automation and fewer true entry‑level openings are compressing the bottom of the labor market and weakening the foundation of future talent pipelines.
