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.

West Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In March, West Virginia added 600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5 percent. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 1,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, West Virginia lost 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 3.9 percent.

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

• In March, West Virginia’s private sector added 100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 400 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 1,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in West Virginia fell by 1,521, and over the past 12 months it fell by 6,696.

• West Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 54.3 percent in March from 54.5 percent and ranks 51st in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points.

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West Virginia

Payroll employment

• West Virginia added 600 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 1,500 jobs. West Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

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

• West Virginia added 100 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, West Virginia lost 1,100 jobs. West Virginia 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. West Virginia is tied for 24th 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 State and Local Government (+700) and Private Education and Health Services (+500).
• The worst performing sectors were Financial Activities (-400) and Mining and Logging (-300).

From March 2025 to March 2026:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+2,400) and Construction (+1,700).
• The worst performing sectors were Federal Government (-2,500) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,600).

West 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 West Virginia fell to 54.3 percent in March from 54.5 percent in the prior month.

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in West Virginia was 55.3 percent occurring in September 2023, and the 10-year low was 52.7 percent in April 2020.

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