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.

Arizona Employment Snapshot

• In March, Arizona added 11,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.1 percent. In the prior month, Arizona added 3,100 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Arizona lost 9,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Arizona is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In March, Arizona’s private sector added 11,100 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 10,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,200 net private payroll jobs.

• In March, employment in Arizona rose by 15, and over the past 12 months it rose by 23,896.

• Arizona’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.5 percent in March and ranks 35th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

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Arizona Payroll Employment

• Arizona added 11,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.4 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Arizona added 3,100 jobs. Arizona nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Arizona is tied for 48th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Arizona added 11,100 private sector jobs, or 0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Arizona added 2,200 jobs. Arizona private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Arizona is tied for 48th 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 Professional and Business Services (4,600) and Education and Health Services (4,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-400) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-2,800).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (16,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (2,300).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-9,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-9,600).

Arizona 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 Arizona remained unchanged at 61.5 percent in March.

• Arizona ranks 35th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Arizona was 62.2 percent occurring in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 60 percent occurring in November 2015.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.