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.

Wisconsin Employment Snapshot

• In March, Wisconsin added 10,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 4,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Wisconsin added 15,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 2.9 percent.

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

• In March, Wisconsin’s private sector added 11,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 15,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 900 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Wisconsin fell by 5,549, and over the past 12 months it fell by 3,041.

• Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.6 percent in March from 65.7 percent and ranks 12th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Wisconsin Payroll Employment

• Wisconsin added 10,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 4,700 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin is tied for 34th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Wisconsin added 11,500 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Wisconsin lost 900 jobs. Wisconsin 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. Wisconsin 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 Professional and Business Services (3,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (3,200).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-400) and Government (-1,500).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (10,000) and Professional and Business Services (6,900).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-1,100) and Manufacturing (-7,000).

Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin fell to 65.6 percent in March from 65.7 percent in the prior month.

• Wisconsin ranks 12th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Wisconsin was 68.2 percent occurring in August 2017, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent occurring in November 2022.

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