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.

Pennsylvania

Employment snapshot

• In March, Pennsylvania added 12,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2 percent. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 20,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Pennsylvania added 23,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

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

• In March, Pennsylvania’s private sector added 12,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 27,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 20,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Pennsylvania rose by 8,995, and over the past 12 months it rose by 62,203.

• Pennsylvania’s labor force participation rate rose to 62 percent in March from 61.9 percent and is tied for 31st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.5 percentage points.

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Pennsylvania

Payroll employment

• Pennsylvania added 12,500 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 20,500 jobs. Pennsylvania nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

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

• Pennsylvania added 12,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Pennsylvania lost 20,600 jobs. Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania 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 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+5,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+4,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Other Services (-2,400) and Information (-500).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+30,800) and Leisure and Hospitality (+6,000).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-8,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,200).

Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania rose to 62 percent in March from 61.9 percent in the prior month.

• Pennsylvania is tied for 31st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Pennsylvania was 63.4 percent in March 2016, and the 10-year low was 60.8 percent in April 2020.

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