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.

Montana

Employment snapshot

• In March, Montana lost 1,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. In the prior month, Montana lost 800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Montana lost 400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.1 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Montana is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Montana’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Montana lost 700 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Montana fell by 1,381, and over the past 12 months it fell by 2,091.

• Montana’s labor force participation rate fell to 62 percent in March from 62.2 percent and is tied for 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Montana

Payroll employment

• Montana lost 1,200 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Montana lost 800 jobs. Montana 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. Montana is tied for 25th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Montana lost 900 private sector jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Montana lost 700 jobs. Montana 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. Montana is tied for 18th 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+300) and Private Education and Health Services (+100).
• The worst performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (-700) and Other Services (-200).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Construction (+1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+800).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-700).

Montana

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 Montana fell to 62 percent in March from 62.2 percent in the prior month.

• Montana is tied for 31st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Montana was 64 percent occurring in October 2019, and the 10-year low was 61.9 percent occurring in July 2021.

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