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.
Virginia Employment Snapshot
In March, Virginia added 5,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Virginia lost 1,600 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 48,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, Virginia’s private sector added 8,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 37,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 400 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in Virginia fell by 14,781, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,217.
Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.5 percent in March from 65.7 percent and ranks 13th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.
Virginia Payroll Employment
Virginia added 5,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Virginia lost 1,600 jobs. Virginia 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. Virginia is tied for 15th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Virginia added 8,300 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Virginia lost 400 jobs. Virginia 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. Virginia is tied for 13th 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 Construction (7,200) and Education and Health Services (2,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-2,400) and Professional and Business Services (-4,400).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (30,000) and Government (11,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-900) and Professional and Business Services (-6,500).
Virginia 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 Virginia fell to 65.5 percent in March from 65.7 percent in the prior month.
Virginia ranks 13th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.3 percent occurring in August 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in February 2021.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.