March employment trends for 2026 saw Minnesota’s unemployment rate remain the same at 4.5% and the labor force participation drop by three-tenths of a percentage point to 67.6%, compared to the national rate of 61.9%.
“March was closer to a flat month for the state’s labor market, which is an improvement over February,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “It’s good to see some initial signs of stabilization in the unemployment rate and jobs numbers following the peak of Operation Metro Surge – but I continue to believe Minnesota and the nation face a long road to recovery, amidst other headwinds like high energy prices.”
March 2026 – Unemployment
Year-over-year/Month-over-month comparison
- ±0.0% from February 2026
- +0.9% from March 2025
Minnesota’s unemployment rate held at 4.5%, above the national rate of 4.3%, which decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point from February 2026. The state’s labor force participation rate ticked down three-tenths of a percentage point to 67.6%, compared to the national rate of 61.9%.
*Data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics
March 2026 – Jobs Gained
Jobs Gained & Industries Affected
- 1,600 Professional Services
- 1,500 Manufacturing
- 1,100 Construction
- 300 Other Services
- 200 Government
“It was another challenging month for Minnesota’s labor market,” said Angelina Nguyen, DEED Labor Market Information director. “We still saw the economic impact of ICE in our state during March so from a data perspective, we’re in the middle of this story.”
Key News & Trends
- The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) Increased in April | PR Newswire Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand HR Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand Finance and Accounting Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
- Minnesota’s In-Demand IT Roles for 2026 | Versique Learn More
