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.

Iowa

Employment snapshot

• In March, Iowa lost 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Iowa lost 4,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Iowa lost 20,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Iowa’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 18,900 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa lost 3,300 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Iowa fell by 2,119, and over the past 12 months it rose by 7,281.

• Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.7 percent in March from 67.8 percent and ranks 4th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Iowa

Payroll employment

• Iowa lost 500 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Iowa lost 4,500 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 49th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Iowa lost 300 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Iowa lost 3,300 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 2 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 50th 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 (+1,000) and Other Services (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-800) and Financial Activities (-600).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,700) and Construction (+1,200).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (-4,900).

Iowa

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 Iowa fell to 67.7 percent in March from 67.8 percent in the prior month.

• Iowa ranks 4th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.2 percent occurring in August 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent in August 2020.

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