March 2026

Released April 22, 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.

Washington

Employment snapshot

• In March, Washington added 800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent. In the prior month, Washington lost 2,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Washington added 9,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 4.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Washington is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Washington’s private sector added 2,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 17,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Washington lost 1,600 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Washington fell by 2,914, and over the past 12 months it fell by 10,352.

• Washington’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.5 percent in March from 62.6 percent and ranks 26th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Washington

Payroll employment

• Washington added 800 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Washington lost 2,100 jobs. Washington 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. Washington is tied for 13th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Washington added 2,100 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Washington lost 1,600 jobs. Washington 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. Washington is tied for 8th 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 (+1,500) and Private Education and Health Services (+1,000).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-1,400) and Financial Activities (-900).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+11,300) and Professional and Business Services (+6,600).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-7,000) and Financial Activities (-2,600).

Washington

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 Washington fell to 62.5 percent in March from 62.6 percent in the prior month.

• Washington ranks 26th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Washington was 65.9 percent in November 2019, and the 10-year low was 62.5 percent in March 2026.

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