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.

Michigan

Employment snapshot

• In March, Michigan added 5,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5 percent. In the prior month, Michigan lost 4,700 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Michigan lost 8,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points from 5.3 percent.

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

• In March, Michigan’s private sector added 4,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 19,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Michigan lost 4,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Michigan fell by 13,650, and over the past 12 months it fell by 77,207.

• Michigan’s labor force participation rate fell to 60.3 percent in March from 60.5 percent and ranks 38th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.4 percentage points.

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Michigan

Payroll employment

• Michigan added 5,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Michigan lost 4,700 jobs. Michigan 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. Michigan is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Michigan added 4,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Michigan lost 4,800 jobs. Michigan private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Michigan ranks 45th 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 (+4,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (+2,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,700) and Financial Activities (-700).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+13,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+8,300).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-13,400) and Manufacturing (-8,500).

Michigan

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 Michigan fell to 60.3 percent in March from 60.5 percent in the prior month.

• Michigan ranks 38th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Michigan was 62.3 percent in June 2020, and the 10-year low was 56.7 percent in April 2020.

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