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.

Colorado Employment Snapshot

• In March, Colorado added 6,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Colorado lost 11,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Colorado added 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Colorado ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Colorado’s private sector added 5,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 11,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Colorado lost 12,000 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Colorado fell by 3,583, and over the past 12 months it fell by 1,195.

• Colorado’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.8 percent in March from 67.9 percent and ranks 7th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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Colorado Payroll Employment

• Colorado added 6,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Colorado lost 11,600 jobs. Colorado nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Colorado ranks 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Colorado added 5,800 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Colorado lost 12,000 jobs. Colorado private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Colorado ranks 50th 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 (7,700) and Professional and Business Services tied with Government (1,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,800) and Education and Health Services (-2,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (13,800) and Education and Health Services (1,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Professional and Business Services (-8,400).

Colorado 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 Colorado fell to 67.8 percent in March from 67.9 percent in the prior month.

• Colorado ranks 7th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Colorado was 68.8 percent occurring in January 2020, and the 10-year low was 65.4 percent in July 2020.

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