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.

Oklahoma Employment Snapshot

• In March, Oklahoma lost 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 16,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Oklahoma’s private sector lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 13,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Oklahoma rose by 2,270, and over the past 12 months it rose by 12,626.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.6 percent in March and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Oklahoma Payroll Employment

• Oklahoma lost 1,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,800 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma lost 1,500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,000 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 19th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (600) and Education and Health Services (400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-600) and Other Services (-800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (8,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (4,700).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,300) and Professional and Business Services (-3,000).

Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma remained unchanged at 62.6 percent in March.

• Oklahoma is tied for 29th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63 percent occurring in December 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

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