March 2026

Released May 06, 2026

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 14, rose in 10, and remained unchanged in 27.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2.3 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.3 percent.

• In March, payroll jobs rose in 35 states and fell in 15. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Tennessee. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Hawaii, Montana, and Oregon.

Delaware

Employment snapshot

• In March, Delaware added 1,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.4 percent. In the prior month, Delaware lost 400 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Delaware added 700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1 percentage points from 4.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Delaware’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Delaware lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Delaware fell by 1,051, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,410.

• Delaware’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.1 percent in March from 59.3 percent and ranks 42nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.8 percentage points.

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Delaware

Payroll employment

• Delaware added 1,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Delaware lost 400 jobs. Delaware nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 18th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Delaware added 900 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Delaware lost 700 jobs. Delaware private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Delaware is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From February 2026 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (+700) and State and Local Government (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-700) and Leisure and Hospitality (-200).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,700) and Professional and Business Services (+1,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,000).

Delaware

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 Delaware fell to 59.1 percent in March from 59.3 percent in the prior month.

• Delaware ranks 42nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Delaware was 63.2 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 59.1 percent in March 2026.

• The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.