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.

Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In March, Virginia added 6,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent. In the prior month, Virginia lost 9,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia lost 33,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Virginia’s private sector added 6,200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 28,300 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia lost 13,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Virginia fell by 11,193, and over the past 12 months it fell by 59,433.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 63.6 percent in March from 63.7 percent and ranks 18th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1 percentage point.

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Virginia

Payroll employment

• Virginia added 6,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Virginia lost 9,500 jobs. Virginia 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. Virginia is tied for 46th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia added 6,200 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Virginia lost 13,900 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 186,000 jobs in March, or 0.1 percent. Virginia ranks 47th 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 Construction (+2,100) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,900).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-1,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,000).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were State and Local Government (+16,300) and Private Education and Health Services (+10,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-21,400) and Professional and Business Services (-18,600).

Virginia

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 Virginia fell to 63.6 percent in March from 63.7 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia ranks 18th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.1 percent occurring in March 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in June 2020.

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