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.

Hawaii

Employment snapshot

• In March, Hawaii lost 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.4 percent. In the prior month, Hawaii added 100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Hawaii lost 1,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 2.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Hawaii’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Hawaii added 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Hawaii fell by 1,009, and over the past 12 months it rose by 282.

• Hawaii’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.6 percent in March from 60.7 percent and ranks 37th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Hawaii

Payroll employment

• Hawaii lost 1,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Hawaii added 100 jobs. Hawaii nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Hawaii lost 900 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Hawaii added 100 jobs. Hawaii private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Hawaii is tied for 10th 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 Private Education and Health Services (+200) and Manufacturing (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-400) and State and Local Government (-300).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (+1,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,900) and State and Local Government (-1,500).

Hawaii

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 Hawaii fell to 60.6 percent in March from 60.7 percent in the prior month.

• Hawaii ranks 37th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Hawaii was 62.4 percent in March 2017, and the 10-year low was 55.3 percent in September 2020.

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