Los Angeles unemployment rate holds steady in May as hospitality hiring accelerates

Los Angeles County’s labor market was largely unchanged in May, with the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate holding at 5.5%, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released June 19. The rate was flat from April and has remained at 5.5% for most of 2026, aside from a brief dip to 5.4% in March. Though there has been limited movement in the unemployment rate so far in 2026, May’s unemployment rate is below where it was this time last year, 5.7%. California’s unemployment rate held steady at 5.3%, down from 5.5% in May 2025, while the national rate was unchanged at 4.3%. Both Los Angeles County and California continued to post unemployment rates above the national average.