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.

Vermont

Employment snapshot

• In March, Vermont remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent. In the prior month, Vermont lost 300 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Vermont lost 900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Vermont is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Vermont’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Vermont lost 600 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Vermont fell by 1,360, and over the past 12 months it fell by 8,413.

• Vermont’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.9 percent in March from 63.2 percent and ranks 24th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.6 percentage points.

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Vermont

Payroll employment

• Vermont remained unchanged with 0 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Vermont lost 300 jobs. Vermont 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. Vermont is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Vermont added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Vermont lost 600 jobs. Vermont 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. Vermont is tied for 31st 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 (+400) and Construction (+200).
• The worst performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (-300) and State and Local Government (-100).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Leisure and Hospitality (+1,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+400).
• The worst performing sectors were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400) and Federal Government (-400).

Vermont

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 Vermont fell to 62.9 percent in March from 63.2 percent in the prior month.

• Vermont ranks 24th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Vermont was 67.3 percent occurring in February 2017, and the 10-year low was 61.6 percent in January 2021.

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