Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey Unemployment Rates Stable in May Amid Mixed Job Changes

In May 2025, Ohio's unemployment rate held steady at 4.9%, unchanged from April, with a slight increase in unemployed individuals to 294,000 and a monthly decline of 6,500 in nonagricultural wage and salary employment. Despite monthly job losses in manufacturing, construction, and private service sectors like trade and hospitality, Ohio's overall employment increased by 55,700 over the past year, led by gains in construction, private education and health services, and financial activities. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained stable at 3.9%, below the national average, with total nonfarm jobs hitting a record high of 6,223,400, boosted mainly by growth in leisure & hospitality and education and health services sectors. New Jersey’s job market was stagnant in May, with an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.8% and total employment flat at 4,394,500 jobs; some private sectors saw gains while others, including education, health services, and construction, experienced losses. Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate stayed steady at 4.2%, showing little change from April 2025 but a slight rise from 4.0% the previous year. Across these states, labor force participation rates varied slightly, but the data indicates a generally mixed employment landscape with some sectors growing while others contract.