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.

North Dakota

Employment snapshot

• In March, North Dakota added 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.5 percent. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,600 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, North Dakota added 2,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 2.6 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. North Dakota is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, North Dakota’s private sector added 600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 1,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in North Dakota rose by 431, and over the past 12 months it rose by 6,795.

• North Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 70.1 percent in March and ranks 2nd in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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North Dakota

Payroll employment

• North Dakota added 900 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,600 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 7th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• North Dakota added 600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, North Dakota added 1,400 jobs. North Dakota 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. North Dakota is tied for 10th 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 (+600) and State and Local Government (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-100) and Financial Activities (-100).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+1,800) and Professional and Business Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Mining and Logging (-700) and Financial Activities (-600).

North Dakota

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 North Dakota remained unchanged at 70.1 percent in March.

• North Dakota ranks 2nd in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 70.9 percent occurring in April 2017, and the 10-year low was 68.3 percent occurring in January 2021.

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