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.

Montana Employment Snapshot

• In March, Montana added 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.7 percent. In the prior month, Montana lost 3,400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana added 2,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3 percent.

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

• In March, Montana’s private sector added 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana lost 2,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Montana fell by 227, and over the past 12 months it rose by 81.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.4 percent in March from 62.5 percent and ranks 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Montana Payroll Employment

• Montana added 1,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Montana lost 3,400 jobs. Montana nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

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

• Montana added 1,500 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Montana lost 2,900 jobs. Montana 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. Montana is tied for 29th 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 (1,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-200) and Education and Health Services (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (2,700) and Professional and Business Services (2,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,000) and Construction (-1,500).

Montana 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 Montana fell to 62.4 percent in March from 62.5 percent in the prior month.

• Montana ranks 31st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 62 percent in August 2021.

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