State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2017-04-21

Unemployment rates were lower in March in 17 states and stable in 33 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eighteen states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, and 32 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point from February to 4.5 percent and was 0.5 point lower than in March 2016. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 4 states in March 2017, increased in 3, and was essentially unchanged in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 27 states added nonfarm payroll jobs, 2 states lost jobs, and 21 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Colorado had the lowest unemployment rate in March, 2.6 percent, closely followed by Hawaii, 2.7 percent, and New Hampshire, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 2.8 percent each.