March 2025
Released April 18, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In March, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Connecticut.
District of Columbia Employment Snapshot
In March, District of Columbia added 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 5.6 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 700 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 5.2 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, District of Columbia’s private sector added 1,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 1,100 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in District of Columbia rose by 248, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,991.
District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate rose to 72.4 percent in March from 72.3 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
District of Columbia Payroll Employment
District of Columbia added 1,700 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, District of Columbia lost 700 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 47th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
District of Columbia added 1,300 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 1,100 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. District of Columbia is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during March were Professional and Business Services (600) and Education and Health Services (600).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing tied with Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Information (0) and Other Services (-300).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (1,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-900) and Government (-2,500).
District of Columbia Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in District of Columbia rose to 72.4 percent in March from 72.3 percent in the prior month.
District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in District of Columbia was 72.9 percent occurring in February 2024, and the 10-year low was 68 percent in May 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.