Puerto Rico’s unemployment rate remained at 5.6% in May, while nonfarm payroll employment increased by 1,500 jobs from April and 4,600 jobs year over year, according to the Department of Labor.
SAN JUAN — Puerto Rico’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.6% in May, while nonfarm payroll employment increased both month over month and year over year, according to data released Tuesday by the Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH).
“The stability in the unemployment rate and the increase in payroll employment are positive indicators of our labor market’s performance,” Labor Secretary María del Pilar Vélez Casanova said in a statement.
According to the agency’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll survey, employment reached 959,500 jobs in May 2026, representing an increase of 1,500 positions compared with April and 4,600 more jobs than in May 2025.
The household survey showed the unemployment rate remained unchanged from April but was 0.1 percentage point higher than the rate recorded a year earlier.
The number of unemployed individuals was estimated at 69,000, unchanged from the previous month. Meanwhile, the labor force totaled 1.232 million people, down by 2,000 compared with April.
Puerto Rico’s labor force participation rate stood at 44.3%, a decline of 0.2 percentage points both month over month and year over year.
Total employment was estimated at 1.163 million people, down by 2,000 compared with both April 2026 and May 2025.
“We remain focused on creating opportunities that connect people with quality jobs while supporting employers in recruiting and retaining talent,” Vélez Casanova said.
The largest monthly job gains were recorded in trade, transportation and utilities, which added 800 positions. Leisure and hospitality gained 500 jobs, financial activities added 400, education and health services increased by 300, other services added 200, while information services and government each gained 100 jobs.
Job losses were reported in professional and business services, which shed 700 positions, while construction and manufacturing each declined by 100 jobs.
Compared with May 2025, the strongest gains were seen in leisure and hospitality, which added 5,700 jobs, followed by education and health services with 3,100 new positions. Trade, transportation and utilities added 700 jobs, while construction and financial activities each increased by 400 jobs.
The survey was conducted by the DTRH’s Statistics and Publications Division using a sample of approximately 3,200 households across Puerto Rico.
