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.

Ohio Employment Snapshot

• In March, Ohio added 7,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Ohio added 27,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Ohio added 42,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Ohio’s private sector added 7,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 42,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Ohio added 28,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Ohio rose by 11,461, and over the past 12 months it rose by 29,613.

• Ohio’s labor force participation rate rose to 62.6 percent in March from 62.5 percent and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Ohio Payroll Employment

• Ohio added 7,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Ohio added 27,700 jobs. Ohio nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Ohio is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Ohio added 7,300 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Ohio added 28,300 jobs. Ohio 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. Ohio is tied for 19th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (5,700) and Construction (2,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Information (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-5,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (20,000) and Construction (16,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,900).

Ohio 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 Ohio rose to 62.6 percent in March from 62.5 percent in the prior month.

• Ohio is tied for 29th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Ohio was 63.6 percent occurring in January 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.5 percent in April 2020.

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