For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, April 18, 2025 USDL-25-0490
Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 * sminfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- MARCH 2025
Unemployment rates were higher in March in 3 states, lower in 1 state, and stable in 46 states
and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-eight
states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 1 state had a decrease,
and 21 states had little change. The national unemployment rate changed little over the month
at 4.2 percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in March 2024.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states and was essentially unchanged in 44 states and
the District of Columbia in March 2025. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in
13 states and was essentially unchanged in 37 states and the District.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and
unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to
individuals by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that
measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on
payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information about the
concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.
Unemployment
South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in March, 1.8 percent. Nevada had the highest
unemployment rate, 5.7 percent. In total, 18 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S.
figure of 4.2 percent, 5 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 27 states
had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 1.)
In March, three states had unemployment rate increases: Connecticut (+0.2 percentage point) and
Massachusetts and Virginia (+0.1 point each). Indiana had the only rate decrease (-0.2
percentage point). The remaining 46 states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that
were not notably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at
least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table B.)
Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from March
2024, the largest of which were in Michigan (+1.3 percentage points) and Mississippi (+1.1
points). The only over-the-year rate decrease occurred in Montana (-0.3 percentage point).
Twenty-one states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year
earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant
changes. (See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states and was essentially unchanged in 44 states and
the District of Columbia in March 2025. The largest job gains occurred in Pennsylvania
(+20,900), Missouri (+13,900), and Arizona (+11,400). The largest percentage increase occurred
in Missouri (+0.5 percent), followed by Arizona, Minnesota, Oregon, and South Carolina (+0.4
percent each). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 13 states and was essentially unchanged
in 37 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+192,100),
Florida (+135,000), and New York (+126,200). The largest percentage increases occurred in Idaho
(+2.6 percent), South Carolina (+2.4 percent), and Utah (+1.9 percent). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for March is scheduled to be
released on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and Unemployment
news release for April is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., March 2025, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 4.2
|
Alabama .............................| 3.3
California ..........................| 5.3
District of Columbia ................| 5.6
Florida .............................| 3.6
Georgia .............................| 3.6
Hawaii ..............................| 2.9
Illinois ............................| 4.8
Iowa ................................| 3.4
Kentucky ............................| 5.2
Maryland ............................| 3.0
|
Michigan ............................| 5.5
Minnesota ...........................| 3.1
Montana .............................| 2.7
Nebraska ............................| 2.9
Nevada ..............................| 5.7
New Hampshire .......................| 3.1
North Dakota ........................| 2.6
Oklahoma ............................| 3.3
South Dakota ........................| 1.8
Utah ................................| 3.1
|
Vermont .............................| 2.6
Virginia ............................| 3.2
Wisconsin ...........................| 3.2
Wyoming .............................| 3.4
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from February 2025 to March 2025, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | February | March | change(p)
| 2025 | 2025(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut ....................| 3.4 | 3.6 | 0.2
Indiana ........................| 4.3 | 4.1 | -.2
Massachusetts ..................| 4.3 | 4.4 | .1
Virginia .......................| 3.1 | 3.2 | .1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from March 2024 to March 2025, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | March | March | change(p)
| 2024 | 2025(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 2.9 | 3.3 | 0.4
Arizona ........................| 3.3 | 4.1 | .8
Arkansas .......................| 3.4 | 3.7 | .3
California .....................| 5.1 | 5.3 | .2
Colorado .......................| 4.0 | 4.8 | .8
Connecticut ....................| 3.2 | 3.6 | .4
District of Columbia ...........| 5.2 | 5.6 | .4
Florida ........................| 3.2 | 3.6 | .4
Iowa ...........................| 2.7 | 3.4 | .7
Kansas .........................| 3.3 | 3.8 | .5
| | |
Kentucky .......................| 4.8 | 5.2 | .4
Maine ..........................| 2.8 | 3.5 | .7
Massachusetts ..................| 3.8 | 4.4 | .6
Michigan .......................| 4.2 | 5.5 | 1.3
Mississippi ....................| 2.8 | 3.9 | 1.1
Montana ........................| 3.0 | 2.7 | -.3
Nebraska .......................| 2.6 | 2.9 | .3
New Hampshire ..................| 2.4 | 3.1 | .7
New Mexico .....................| 3.9 | 4.3 | .4
North Dakota ...................| 2.3 | 2.6 | .3
| | |
Ohio ...........................| 4.1 | 4.8 | .7
Oregon .........................| 4.1 | 4.6 | .5
Pennsylvania ...................| 3.6 | 3.8 | .2
Rhode Island ...................| 4.1 | 4.8 | .7
South Carolina .................| 3.7 | 4.1 | .4
Tennessee ......................| 3.1 | 3.6 | .5
Vermont ........................| 2.1 | 2.6 | .5
Virginia .......................| 2.8 | 3.2 | .4
Wisconsin ......................| 2.9 | 3.2 | .3
Wyoming ........................| 2.9 | 3.4 | .5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
February 2025 to March 2025, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | February | March |---------------------------
| 2025 | 2025(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ......................| 3,245,000 | 3,256,400 | 11,400 | 0.4
Minnesota ....................| 3,039,000 | 3,049,700 | 10,700 | .4
Missouri .....................| 2,992,400 | 3,006,300 | 13,900 | .5
Oregon .......................| 2,004,800 | 2,012,100 | 7,300 | .4
Pennsylvania .................| 6,196,800 | 6,217,700 | 20,900 | .3
South Carolina ...............| 2,389,800 | 2,400,000 | 10,200 | .4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
March 2024 to March 2025, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | March | March |---------------------------
| 2024 | 2025(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida ......................| 9,915,000 | 10,050,000 | 135,000 | 1.4
Hawaii .......................| 638,000 | 649,800 | 11,800 | 1.8
Idaho ........................| 854,600 | 876,600 | 22,000 | 2.6
Minnesota ....................| 3,013,100 | 3,049,700 | 36,600 | 1.2
New York .....................| 9,840,400 | 9,966,600 | 126,200 | 1.3
North Carolina ...............| 5,006,500 | 5,070,900 | 64,400 | 1.3
Oregon .......................| 1,987,400 | 2,012,100 | 24,700 | 1.2
Pennsylvania .................| 6,131,000 | 6,217,700 | 86,700 | 1.4
South Carolina ...............| 2,344,600 | 2,400,000 | 55,400 | 2.4
Texas ........................| 14,090,500 | 14,282,600 | 192,100 | 1.4
| | | |
Utah .........................| 1,739,500 | 1,772,500 | 33,000 | 1.9
Virginia .....................| 4,223,100 | 4,271,400 | 48,300 | 1.1
Washington ...................| 3,625,800 | 3,665,800 | 40,000 | 1.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
