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.

District of Columbia

Employment snapshot

• In March, District of Columbia added 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 6.3 percent. In the prior month, District of Columbia remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, District of Columbia lost 40,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points from 6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, District of Columbia’s private sector added 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 12,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in District of Columbia fell by 824, and over the past 12 months it fell by 10,546.

• District of Columbia’s labor force participation rate fell to 70.8 percent in March from 71.1 percent and ranks 1st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.9 percentage points.

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District of Columbia

Payroll employment

• District of Columbia added 200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, District of Columbia remained unchanged with 0 jobs. District of Columbia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 1 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• District of Columbia added 900 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, District of Columbia added 600 jobs. District of Columbia private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. District of Columbia ranks 51st 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 Other Services (+400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-200).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Manufacturing (+0) and Financial Activities (-200).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-26,800) and Professional and Business Services (-6,200).

District of Columbia

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 District of Columbia fell to 70.8 percent in March from 71.1 percent in the prior month.

• District of Columbia ranks 1st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in District of Columbia was 73 percent in January 2024, and the 10-year low was 68 percent in May 2020.

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