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.
Massachusetts
Employment snapshot
In March, Massachusetts added 6,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Massachusetts lost 7,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Massachusetts lost 7,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Massachusetts is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, Massachusetts’s private sector added 6,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 7,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Massachusetts lost 7,500 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in Massachusetts fell by 12,296, and over the past 12 months it fell by 64,228.
Massachusetts’s labor force participation rate fell to 65.8 percent in March from 66 percent and ranks 11th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.9 percentage points.
Massachusetts
Payroll employment
Massachusetts added 6,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Massachusetts lost 7,100 jobs. Massachusetts 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. Massachusetts is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Massachusetts added 6,700 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Massachusetts lost 7,500 jobs. Massachusetts 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. Massachusetts is tied for 38th 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 (+3,400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+2,400).
- The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-2,300) and Other Services (-600).
From March 2025 to March 2026:
- The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+3,900) and State and Local Government (+3,500).
- The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-5,200) and Federal Government (-3,700).
Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts fell to 65.8 percent in March from 66 percent in the prior month.
Massachusetts ranks 11th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Massachusetts was 67.4 percent occurring in July 2018, and the 10-year low was 61.1 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage points to 61.9 percent in March.