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.
Utah Employment Snapshot
In March, Utah added 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent. In the prior month, Utah added 800 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Utah added 33,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point from 3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Utah ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, Utah’s private sector added 1,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 22,400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Utah lost 300 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in Utah rose by 2,049, and over the past 12 months it rose by 21,723.
Utah’s labor force participation rate fell to 68.3 percent in March from 68.4 percent and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.6 percentage points.
Utah Payroll Employment
Utah added 2,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Utah added 800 jobs. Utah nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Utah ranks 3rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Utah added 1,200 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Utah lost 300 jobs. Utah 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. Utah is tied for 5th 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 (1,400) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,000).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600) and Education and Health Services (-800).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (12,000) and Government (10,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,400).
Utah 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 Utah fell to 68.3 percent in March from 68.4 percent in the prior month.
Utah ranks 5th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Utah was 69.3 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 67.5 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.