Job Service North Dakota reported that labor statistics released today show North Dakota’s May not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.1 percent. The unemployment rate decreased 0.4 of a percentage point between April and May. May 2021’s rate was 1.2 percentage points higher than the current rate.

Between April 2022 and May 2022 unemployment fell by 1,780, a decrease of 17.4 percent. North Dakota typically sees a moderate decrease in unemployment numbers between April and May. The over-the-year decrease (May 2021 to May 2022) in unemployed labor force was 4,831, a loss of 36.3 percent.

The national not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 3.4 percent. It was 3.3 percent the prior month and 5.5 percent the prior year.

North Dakota Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force Data
  May 2022 April 2022 May 2021
Unemployment Rate 2.1% 2.5% 3.3%
Unemployed 8,477 10,257 13,308
Employed 401,634 397,066 392,909
Labor Force 410,111 407,323 406,217

The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the month, the same as the prior month, and 2.2 percentage points lower than the same period one year ago. The seasonally adjusted rate for North Dakota was 2.6 percent, lower than the prior month by 0.2 of a percentage point, and 1.2 percentage points lower than the same period one year ago. The seasonal adjustment process uses a statistical adjustment to accommodate predictable fluctuations between months such as length of daylight and typical weather, allowing for comparison between all months of a year.

In May, North Dakota ranked 11th among all states’ unemployment rates, at 2.6 percent. Nebraska came in 1st place, with an unemployment rate of 1.9 percent.

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
  May 2022 April 2022 May 2021
North Dakota 2.6% 2.8% 3.8%
United States 3.6% 3.6% 5.8%

     North Dakota’s Nonfarm Employment

Preliminary estimates indicate North Dakota’s May 2022 not seasonally adjusted employment increased 2.1 percent (+8,900) from the same period one year ago and increased 0.9 percent (+3,700) over the month.

Nine of the 13 major industries reported year-over-year employment increases. These industries have been making considerable progress towards returning to pre-pandemic employment levels. Mining and Logging (+1,900), Retail Trade (+1,800), Government (+1,700), and Professional and Business Services (+1,500) posted the largest over-the-year increases in employment.

Educational and Health Services (-1,100), Financial Activities (-400), and Wholesale Trade (-300) posted the largest over-the-year decreases in employment. While Information reported the largest employment percentage loss for the year, with a 1.8 percent (-100) decrease.

METRO AREAS

All three of North Dakota’s metro areas had increases in annual employment. Combined, employment grew by 4,000 jobs in the metro areas. Fargo posted the largest employment gain of 2,000 (+1.4 percent). Grand Forks and Bismarck followed with employment growth of 1,600 and 400, respectively.

FARGO

  • Professional and Business Services posted the largest employment increase, with an increase of 800 jobs. Educational and Health Services (+500), Manufacturing (+500), and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (+500) tied with the second largest employment increases. Employment reductions occurred in Financial Activities (-500), Wholesale Trade (-200), and Information (-100).

GRAND FORKS

  • The most substantial gains took place in Leisure and Hospitality (+600), Professional and Business Services (+500), and Government (+500). Financial Activities (-100) and Educational and Health Services (-100) reported the only losses.

BISMARCK

  • Retail Trade (+200), Professional and Business Services (+200), and Mining, Logging and Construction (+200) tied for posting the largest employment gains. The largest employment losses occurred within Government (-400) and Financial Activities (-200).