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.

Michigan Employment Snapshot

• In March, Michigan lost 4,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 5.5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan added 1,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan added 24,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.3 percentage points from 4.2 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Michigan is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Michigan’s private sector lost 6,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 19,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan added 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Michigan fell by 2,587, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,369.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62 percent in March and ranks 33rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Michigan Payroll Employment

• Michigan lost 4,700 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Michigan added 1,200 jobs. Michigan 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. Michigan is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan lost 6,300 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Michigan added 700 jobs. Michigan 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. Michigan is tied for 33rd 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 Government (1,600) and Other Services (1,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-4,000) and Manufacturing (-4,500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (20,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (7,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-8,000) and Manufacturing (-12,900).

Michigan 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 Michigan remained unchanged at 62 percent in March.

• Michigan ranks 33rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.

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