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.

Minnesota

Employment snapshot

• In March, Minnesota added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.5 percent. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 6,900 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Minnesota added 5,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 3.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Minnesota’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 3,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 6,700 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Minnesota fell by 13,731, and over the past 12 months it fell by 39,772.

• Minnesota’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.6 percent in March from 67.9 percent and is tied for 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.7 percentage points.

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Minnesota

Payroll employment

• Minnesota added 800 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 6,900 jobs. Minnesota nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 16th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Minnesota added 600 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Minnesota lost 6,700 jobs. Minnesota private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Minnesota is tied for 24th 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 (+1,600) and Manufacturing (+1,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-800).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+20,000) and Construction (+5,100).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,300) and Leisure and Hospitality (-5,500).

Minnesota

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 Minnesota fell to 67.6 percent in March from 67.9 percent in the prior month.

• Minnesota is tied for 5th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Minnesota was 70.9 percent in July 2020, and the 10-year low was 67 percent in April 2020.

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