Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release - 2022 M05 Results — 2022-06-03

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 390,000 in May, and the unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent. Notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services, and in transportation and warehousing. Employment in retail trade declined. Nonfarm employment is down by 822,000, or 0.5 percent, from its February 2020 level before the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In May, employment growth continued in leisure and hospitality (+84,000), with gains in food services and drinking places (+46,000) and accommodation (+21,000). Employment in leisure and hospitality is down by 1.3 million, or 7.9 percent, from its February 2020 level. Employment in professional and business services increased by 75,000 in May and is 821,000 above its February 2020 level. Job gains in May occurred in accounting and bookkeeping services (+16,000), computer systems design and related services (+13,000), and scientific research and development services (+6,000).