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.

Florida

Employment snapshot

• In March, Florida added 28,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Florida lost 2,300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Florida lost 22,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.1 percentage points from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Florida is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Florida’s private sector added 27,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 10,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Florida lost 3,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Florida fell by 1,689, and over the past 12 months it fell by 95,412.

• Florida’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 57.7 percent in March and is tied for 46th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Florida

Payroll employment

• Florida added 28,100 net payroll jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Florida lost 2,300 jobs. Florida 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. Florida is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Florida added 27,300 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Florida lost 3,200 jobs. Florida 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. Florida is tied for 31st 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 (+19,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (+5,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Manufacturing (-3,400) and Financial Activities (-2,500).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+31,500) and Professional and Business Services (+9,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-12,300) and Financial Activities (-11,500).

Florida

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 Florida remained unchanged at 57.7 percent in March.

• Florida is tied for 46th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Florida was 59.7 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 53.8 percent in April 2020.

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