Skip to Content

An official website of the United States government 	  	Here is how you know 

  United States Department of Labor

**The .gov means it's official.** Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,			make sure you're on a federal government site.		

**The site is secure.** The			**https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any			information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.		

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Follow UsRelease CalendarBlog

              - Search buttonSearch:  Follow Us | Release Calendar | Blog 
              - Home   - About BLS
- History
- Our Leadership
- Budget and Performance
- Questions and Answers
- A-Z Index
- Glossary
- Careers at BLS 
- BLS Speakers Available
- Errata
- Contact BLS
- Overview of BLS Statistics
- Guide to Programs & Services
- Demographics
- Industries
- Business Costs
- Occupations
- Geography
- Resources For
- Business Leaders
- Consumers
- Developers
- Economists
- Investors
- Jobseekers
- Media
- Public Policymakers
- Researcher
- Students & Teachers
- Survey Respondents
 
              - Subjects   - Inflation & Prices
- Consumer Price Index
- Producer Price Indexes
- Import/Export Price Indexes
- Contract Escalation
- Price Index Research
- Pay & Benefits
- Employment Cost Index
- Employer Costs for Employee Compensation
- Wage Data by Occupation
- Earnings by Demographics
- Earnings by Industry
- County Wages
- Benefits
- Modeled Wage Estimates
- Compensation Research
- Strikes & Lockouts 
- Wage Records from Unemployment Insurance
- Occupational Requirements
- Unemployment
- National Unemployment Rate 
- State & Local Unemployment Rates 
- Unemployment Research
- Employment
- National Employment 
- State & Local Employment 
- County Employment 
- Worker Characteristics 
- American Indian Report
- Employment Projections 
- Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey 
- Business Response Survey
- Employment by Occupation 
- Work Experience Over Time 
- Business Employment Dynamics 
- Foreign Direct Investment 
- Employment Research
- Workplace Injuries
- Productivity
- Labor and Total Factor Productivity
- Productivity Research
- Spending & Time Use
- Consumer Expenditures 
- How Americans Spend Time
- International
- International Technical Cooperation
- Import/Export Price Indexes
- Geographic Information
- Northeast (Boston-New York)
- Mid-Atlantic (Philadelphia)
- Southeast (Atlanta)
- Midwest (Chicago)
- Southwest (Dallas)
- Mountain-Plains (Kansas City)
- West (San Francisco)
 
              - Data Tools   - Data Retrieval Tools
- BLS Popular Series
- Series Report
- Top Picks, One Screen, Multi-Screen, and Maps
- Data Finder
- Public Data API
- Charts and Applications
- Charts for Economic News Releases
- CPI Inflation Calculator
- Injury and Illness Calculator
- Pay Measure Comparison
- Demographic Data Sources
- COVID-19 Economic Trends
- Industry Productivity Viewer
- Employment and Wages Data Viewer
- Industry Finder from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
- Customized Tables
- U.S. Economy at a Glance
- Regions, States & Areas at a Glance
- Industry at a Glance
- Text Files
- News Release Tables
- More Sources of Data
- Restricted Data Access
- Discontinued Databases 
- Questions & Answers
- Special Notices 
 
              - Publications   - Latest Publications
- The Economics Daily
- Monthly Labor Review
- Beyond the Numbers
- Spotlight on Statistics
- Reports
- Commissioner's Corner
- Videos
- Career Outlook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Geographic Profile
- Handbook of Methods
- Research Papers
- Copyright Information
- Contact & Help 
- Weekly Update
 
              - Economic Releases   - Latest Releases
- Major Economic Indicators
- Schedules for news Releases
- By Month
- By News Release
- Current Year
- Prior Years
- Archived News Releases
- Employment & Unemployment
- Monthly
- Quarterly, annual, and other
-  Inflation & Prices
- Pay & Benefits & Workplace Injuries
- Productivity & Technology
- Employment Projections
- Regional News Releases
 
              - Classroom   - K-12 Student & Teacher Resources
- Games & Quizzes
- Student's Desk
- Teacher's Desk
- Questions & Answers
 
              - Beta   - Redesigned News Releases
 

Economic News Release

            SHARE ON:           

PRINT:

LAU 

Local Area Unemployment Statistics

                - LAU Homepage
                - LAU Overview
                - LAU FAQ
                - Contact LAU

SAE 

Employment, Hours, and Earnings from the Current Employment Statistics survey (State and Metro Area)

                - SAE Homepage
                - SAE Overview
                - SAE FAQ
                - Contact SAE

# State Employment and Unemployment Summary

```

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, April 19, 2024	                          USDL-24-0701

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 2024


Unemployment rates were lower in March in 6 states, higher in 1 state, and stable in 43 states
and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-nine
states had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 1 state had a decrease, and 20 states
and the District had little change. The national unemployment rate changed little at 3.8
percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in March 2023.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states and was essentially unchanged in 45 states
and the District of Columbia in March 2024. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment
increased in 31 states and was essentially unchanged in 19 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

North Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in March, 2.0 percent, closely followed by South
Dakota, 2.1 percent, and Vermont, 2.2 percent. The rate in Mississippi, 3.0 percent, set a new
series low. (All state series begin in 1976.) California had the highest unemployment rate,
5.3 percent, closely followed by the District of Columbia, 5.2 percent. In total, 23 states
had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.8 percent, 5 states and the District
had higher rates, and 22 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the
nation. (See tables A and 1.)

In March, six states had over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was
in Arizona (-0.3 percentage point). Florida had the only rate increase (+0.1 percentage point).
Forty-three 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-nine states had unemployment rate increases from March 2023, the largest of which was
in Rhode Island (+1.3 percentage points). Massachusetts had the only over-the-year rate 
decrease (-0.6 percentage point). Twenty states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates
that were not notably different from those of a year earlier. (See table C.)

Nonfarm Payroll Employment

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states and was essentially unchanged in 45 states
and the District of Columbia in March 2024. Job gains occurred in Virginia (+16,500, or +0.4
percent), Georgia (+16,200, or +0.3 percent), Kentucky (+9,400, or +0.5 percent), Arkansas
(+6,500, or +0.5 percent), and Kansas (+6,400, or +0.4 percent). (See tables D and 3.)
 
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 31 states and was essentially unchanged
in 19 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+270,700),
California (+217,700), and Florida (+211,100). The largest percentage increases occurred in
Idaho (+3.7 percent), Nevada (+3.4 percent), and Alaska (+3.2 percent). (See table E.)

_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for March is scheduled to be
released on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and Unemployment
news release for April is scheduled to be released on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).


Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., March 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
                State                |          Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................|           3.8
                                     |
Alabama .............................|           3.0
California ..........................|           5.3
District of Columbia ................|           5.2
Florida .............................|           3.2
Georgia .............................|           3.1
Hawaii ..............................|           3.1
Illinois ............................|           4.8
Iowa ................................|           2.9
Kansas ..............................|           2.7
Maryland ............................|           2.5
                                     |
Massachusetts .......................|           2.9
Minnesota ...........................|           2.7
Mississippi .........................|           3.0
Montana .............................|           3.3
Nebraska ............................|           2.5
Nevada ..............................|           5.1
New Hampshire .......................|           2.6
New Jersey ..........................|           4.8
North Dakota ........................|           2.0
Pennsylvania ........................|           3.4
                                     |
South Carolina ......................|           3.1
South Dakota ........................|           2.1
Tennessee ...........................|           3.2
Utah ................................|           2.8
Vermont .............................|           2.2
Virginia ............................|           2.9
Washington ..........................|           4.8
Wisconsin ...........................|           3.0
Wyoming .............................|           2.8
--------------------------------------------------------------
   (1) Data are not preliminary.
   (p) = preliminary.


Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from February 2024 to March 2024, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Rate         |
                                |-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
             State              | February  |   March   |    change(p)
                                |   2024    |  2024(p)  |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ........................|     4.1   |     3.8   |      -0.3
Florida ........................|     3.1   |     3.2   |        .1
Maine ..........................|     3.4   |     3.3   |       -.1
Montana ........................|     3.4   |     3.3   |       -.1
New York .......................|     4.4   |     4.3   |       -.1
Vermont ........................|     2.3   |     2.2   |       -.1
Virginia .......................|     3.0   |     2.9   |       -.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.


Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from March 2023 to March 2024, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Rate         |
                                |-----------|-----------|  Over-the-year
             State              |   March   |   March   |    change(p)
                                |   2023    |  2024(p)  |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................|     2.3   |     3.0   |       0.7
Alaska .........................|     3.8   |     4.6   |        .8
Arkansas .......................|     2.8   |     3.5   |        .7
California .....................|     4.5   |     5.3   |        .8
Colorado .......................|     3.0   |     3.7   |        .7
Connecticut ....................|     3.4   |     4.5   |       1.1
Florida ........................|     2.8   |     3.2   |        .4
Idaho ..........................|     2.9   |     3.3   |        .4
Illinois .......................|     4.2   |     4.8   |        .6
Indiana ........................|     3.2   |     3.5   |        .3
                                |           |           |
Kentucky .......................|     4.0   |     4.5   |        .5
Louisiana ......................|     3.5   |     4.4   |        .9
Maine ..........................|     2.4   |     3.3   |        .9
Maryland .......................|     2.0   |     2.5   |        .5
Massachusetts ..................|     3.5   |     2.9   |       -.6
Missouri .......................|     2.8   |     3.3   |        .5
Montana ........................|     2.5   |     3.3   |        .8
Nebraska .......................|     2.0   |     2.5   |        .5
New Hampshire ..................|     1.8   |     2.6   |        .8
New Jersey .....................|     4.0   |     4.8   |        .8
                                |           |           |
New York .......................|     4.0   |     4.3   |        .3
Ohio ...........................|     3.5   |     3.8   |        .3
Oklahoma .......................|     3.0   |     3.5   |        .5
Oregon .........................|     3.5   |     4.2   |        .7
Rhode Island ...................|     2.7   |     4.0   |       1.3
Utah ...........................|     2.5   |     2.8   |        .3
Vermont ........................|     1.8   |     2.2   |        .4
Washington .....................|     3.9   |     4.8   |        .9
West Virginia ..................|     3.5   |     4.3   |        .8
Wisconsin ......................|     2.6   |     3.0   |        .4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.


Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
February 2024 to March 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |             |             | Over-the-month change(p)
            State             |   February  |    March    |---------------------------
                              |     2024    |    2024(p)  |    Level    |   Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkansas .....................|   1,360,700 |   1,367,200 |       6,500 |      0.5
Georgia ......................|   4,933,300 |   4,949,500 |      16,200 |       .3
Kansas .......................|   1,455,100 |   1,461,500 |       6,400 |       .4
Kentucky .....................|   2,027,500 |   2,036,900 |       9,400 |       .5
Virginia .....................|   4,211,800 |   4,228,300 |      16,500 |       .4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.


Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
March 2023 to March 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |             |             |  Over-the-year change(p)
            State             |    March    |     March   |---------------------------
                              |     2023    |    2024(p)  |    Level    |   Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................|   2,155,100 |   2,191,100 |      36,000 |      1.7
Alaska .......................|     325,200 |     335,500 |      10,300 |      3.2
Arizona ......................|   3,179,800 |   3,250,100 |      70,300 |      2.2
Arkansas .....................|   1,348,700 |   1,367,200 |      18,500 |      1.4
California ...................|  17,778,500 |  17,996,200 |     217,700 |      1.2
Colorado .....................|   2,922,100 |   2,983,300 |      61,200 |      2.1
Florida ......................|   9,688,000 |   9,899,100 |     211,100 |      2.2
Georgia ......................|   4,894,100 |   4,949,500 |      55,400 |      1.1
Idaho ........................|     835,500 |     866,300 |      30,800 |      3.7
Indiana ......................|   3,232,200 |   3,276,800 |      44,600 |      1.4
                              |             |             |             |       
Iowa .........................|   1,586,800 |   1,612,500 |      25,700 |      1.6
Kansas .......................|   1,439,700 |   1,461,500 |      21,800 |      1.5
Kentucky .....................|   2,011,900 |   2,036,900 |      25,000 |      1.2
Minnesota ....................|   2,976,600 |   3,022,100 |      45,500 |      1.5
Missouri .....................|   2,967,800 |   3,022,000 |      54,200 |      1.8
Montana ......................|     517,400 |     528,000 |      10,600 |      2.0
Nebraska .....................|   1,043,400 |   1,062,900 |      19,500 |      1.9
Nevada .......................|   1,524,800 |   1,576,000 |      51,200 |      3.4
New Jersey ...................|   4,302,400 |   4,386,600 |      84,200 |      2.0
New Mexico ...................|     869,500 |     885,200 |      15,700 |      1.8
                              |             |             |             |       
New York .....................|   9,680,700 |   9,825,100 |     144,400 |      1.5
North Carolina ...............|   4,920,700 |   4,978,000 |      57,300 |      1.2
Oklahoma .....................|   1,750,800 |   1,779,100 |      28,300 |      1.6
Pennsylvania .................|   6,070,700 |   6,148,900 |      78,200 |      1.3
South Carolina ...............|   2,293,200 |   2,358,400 |      65,200 |      2.8
South Dakota .................|     459,400 |     470,400 |      11,000 |      2.4
Texas ........................|  13,845,000 |  14,115,700 |     270,700 |      2.0
Utah .........................|   1,709,800 |   1,746,400 |      36,600 |      2.1
Virginia .....................|   4,154,400 |   4,228,300 |      73,900 |      1.8
Washington ...................|   3,582,900 |   3,637,400 |      54,500 |      1.5
West Virginia ................|     707,900 |     719,600 |      11,700 |      1.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (p) = preliminary.
```

 State Employment and Unemployment Technical Note 

 Table 1.  Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and selected area, seasonally adjusted 

 Table 2.  Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and selected area, not seasonally adjusted 

 Table 3.  Employees on nonfarm payrolls by state and selected industry sector, seasonally adjusted 

 Table 4.  Employees on nonfarm payrolls by state and selected industry sector, not seasonally adjusted 

 HTML version of the entire news release 

  The PDF version of the news release 

  News release charts 

 Supplemental Files Table of Contents

  Table of Contents 
**Last Modified Date:** April 19, 2024
 

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

      - Home
      - Subjects
      - Data Tools
      - Publications
      - Economic Releases
      - Classroom
      - Beta

**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Telephone: 1-202-691-6392 www.bls.gov/LAUContact LAUS**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Telephone: 1-202-691-6559 www.bls.gov/SAEContact SAE

**resources**
                - Inspector General (OIG)
                - Budget and Performance
                - Department of Labor Grants
                - No Fear Act
                - USA.gov
                - Vote.gov

**about the site**
                - Sitemap
                - Freedom of Information Act
                - Privacy and Security Statement
                - Disclaimers
                - Linking and Copyright Info
                - Important Website Notices
                - Help and Tutorials
                - Babel Notice: accessing language services

Connect With BLS
TwitterYoutubeEmail