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.

Nebraska Employment Snapshot

• In March, Nebraska added 1,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.9 percent. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Nebraska added 2,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Nebraska is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Nebraska’s private sector added 2,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 500 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Nebraska rose by 2,199, and over the past 12 months it rose by 11,586.

• Nebraska’s labor force participation rate rose to 69.2 percent in March from 69.1 percent and ranks 3rd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Nebraska Payroll Employment

• Nebraska added 1,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 200 jobs. Nebraska 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. Nebraska is tied for 44th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Nebraska added 2,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Nebraska lost 500 jobs. Nebraska private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Nebraska ranks 45th 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 Education and Health Services (900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-300) and Government (-400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (6,200) and Government (2,500).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,300) and Professional and Business Services (-5,000).

Nebraska 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 Nebraska rose to 69.2 percent in March from 69.1 percent in the prior month.

• Nebraska ranks 3rd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Nebraska was 70.5 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 68.8 percent occurring in March 2024.

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