Payroll employment down in 31 states in March 2020

Nonfarm payroll employment decreased significantly in 31 states in March 2020. The largest percentage declines occurred in Louisiana and Rhode Island (−1.1 percent each), followed by Missouri and Vermont (−0.9 percent each). The change in the number of jobs in these four states ranged from −2,900 in Vermont to −25,600 in Missouri.

In terms of the number of jobs, the largest declines occurred in California (−99,500 jobs or −0.6 percent), Texas (−50,900 or −0.4 percent), and New York (−41,700 or −0.4 percent). Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey had employment changes ranging from −40,400 to −31,800 in March 2020.

From March 2019 to March 2020, 13 states had statistically significant increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 2 had decreases, and 35 states and the District of Columbia were unchanged. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+250,900), California (+150,400), and Florida (+126,000). The largest percentage gains occurred in Utah (+2.6 percent), Idaho (+2.4 percent), and Arizona (+2.2 percent). Employment decreased over-the-year in Vermont (−7,700, or −2.4 percent) and West Virginia (−12,600, or −1.7 percent).

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see “State Employment and Unemployment — March 2020.” See the state chart package for more charts and tables related to state employment and unemployment.