March 2025
Released April 18, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In March, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Connecticut.
Alabama Employment Snapshot
In March, Alabama added 5,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Alabama added 20,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points from 2.9 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, Alabama’s private sector added 4,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 15,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Alabama added 2,800 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in Alabama rose by 3,345, and over the past 12 months it rose by 27,680.
Alabama’s labor force participation rate rose to 57.8 percent in March from 57.7 percent and is tied for 47th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has risen by 0.4 percentage points.
Alabama Payroll Employment
Alabama added 5,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Alabama added 3,000 jobs. Alabama nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Alabama is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Alabama added 4,800 private sector jobs, or 0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Alabama added 2,800 jobs. Alabama private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Alabama is tied for 23rd in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during March were Construction (2,100) and Education and Health Services (800).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (400) and Mining and Logging tied with Information; and Financial Activities; and Professional and Business Services (0).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (7,900) and Government (5,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,100) and Professional and Business Services (-3,400).
Alabama 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 Alabama rose to 57.8 percent in March from 57.7 percent in the prior month.
Alabama is tied for 47th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Alabama was 57.8 percent occurring in March 2025, and the 10-year low was 55.4 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.