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.

North Dakota Employment Snapshot

• In March, North Dakota added 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 4,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, North Dakota’s private sector added 700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 200 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in North Dakota rose by 384, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,351.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate rose to 69.5 percent in March from 69.4 percent and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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North Dakota Payroll Employment

• North Dakota added 1,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 100 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 19th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota added 700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, North Dakota lost 200 jobs. North Dakota private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. North Dakota is tied for 23rd 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 Education and Health Services tied with Other Services; and Government (500) and Professional and Business Services (300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-200) and Construction (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (2,700) and Government (1,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-600) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000).

North Dakota 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 North Dakota rose to 69.5 percent in March from 69.4 percent in the prior month.

• North Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 71.2 percent in March 2015, and the 10-year low was 68.5 percent occurring in August 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.