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.

Maine

Employment snapshot

• In March, Maine lost 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent. In the prior month, Maine added 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Maine remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Maine is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Maine’s private sector lost 300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Maine lost 100 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Maine fell by 854, and over the past 12 months it fell by 553.

• Maine’s labor force participation rate fell to 59.5 percent in March from 59.6 percent and ranks 40th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Maine

Payroll employment

• Maine lost 200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Maine added 500 jobs. Maine 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. Maine is tied for 22nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Maine lost 300 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Maine lost 100 jobs. Maine 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. Maine is tied for 28th 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 Leisure and Hospitality (+700) and State and Local Government (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-400).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+2,400) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-2,200) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400).

Maine

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 Maine fell to 59.5 percent in March from 59.6 percent in the prior month.

• Maine ranks 40th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Maine was 63.7 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 58.2 percent occurring in April 2020.

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