Transmission of material in this news release is embargoed until
USDL-22-1082
8:30 a.m. (ET) Friday, June 3, 2022
Technical information:
Household data:
(202) 691-6378 • cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps
Establishment data:
(202) 691-6555 • cesinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ces
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — MAY 2022
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 390,000 in May, and the unemployment rate remained at
3.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and
hospitality, in professional and business services, and in transportation and warehousing. Employment in
retail trade declined.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The household survey measures labor
force status, including unemployment, by demographic characteristics. The establishment survey
measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. For more information about the
concepts and statistical methodology used in these two surveys, see the Technical Note.
Household Survey Data
In May, the unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the third month in a row, and the number of
unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 6.0 million. These measures are little different from
their values in February 2020 (3.5 percent and 5.7 million, respectively), prior to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. (See table A-1.)
Chart 1. Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted,
May 2019 – May 2022
Percent
125,000
130,000
135,000
140,000
145,000
150,000
155,000
160,000
May-19
Nov-19
May-20
Nov-20
May-21
Nov-21
May-22
Thousands
Chart 2. Nonfarm payroll employment, seasonally adjusted,
May 2019 – May 2022
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
May-19
Nov-19
May-20
Nov-20
May-21
Nov-21
May-22
-2-
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asians declined to 2.4 percent in May.
The jobless rates for adult men (3.4 percent), adult women (3.4 percent), teenager