State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2021-04-16

Unemployment rates were lower in March in 20 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 30 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier and 10 states had little or no change. The national unemployment rate, 6.0 percent, edged down by 0.2 percentage point over the month, but was 1.6 points higher than in March 2020. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 29 states and was essentially unchanged in 21 states and the District of Columbia in March 2021. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 46 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 4 states. 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.