March 2026_________________________
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The BLS Establishment Job Report with data released March 6, 2026.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its March report for jobs in February. The Household survey for March shows the civilian population increased by 90 thousand but only 18 thousand new entrants into the labor force. The 18 thousand total divides into a 203 thousand increase in the unemployed and a 185 thousand decrease in the employed. The large increase in the unemployed and large decrease in the employed combined to increase the unemployment rate .1% to 4.4%. The labor force participation rate decreased .1% to 62.0 percent, a very low rate.
Goods production decreased by 25 thousand jobs with decreases
coming in all three subsectors. Natural resources dropped 2 thousand jobs and
even construction lost 11 thousand jobs where specialty trade contractors lost
10.9 thousand jobs after last month’s increase. Construction of buildings added
6.5 thousand jobs offset by heavy and engineering construction down the same
6.5 thousand jobs. Manufacturing had a net loss of 12 thousand jobs with
durable goods employment down 4 thousand of the jobs; non-durable goods
production did poorly with a decline of 8 thousand jobs. Among durable goods no
sub sector did well but fabricated metal products added 2.1 thousand jobs and
machinery manufacturing added another thousand jobs with job losses in
remaining sub sectors. Among non-durable goods, chemical manufacturing added a
thousand jobs but no non durable sub sectors did well with eight of ten sub sectors
losing jobs.
Government service employment decreased a net of 6
thousand jobs, a smaller decline than last month. The federal government added
5.5 thousand postal employees, although their employment remains under 600
thousand, but federal service jobs were down 15.1 thousand leaving a net
federal government loss of 9.6 thousand jobs. State government jobs were up 5
thousand offset by local government down a thousand jobs. State and local
government jobs excluding education decreased 2.9 thousand. State public
education was up 7.2 thousand jobs; local government education was up 500 jobs.
Private sector education declined 15.7 thousand jobs, an unusually large loss
after last month’s gain, which brings the total of education to a decrease of 8
thousand seasonally adjusted jobs.
Finance and real estate took first place for private
service sector job gains with 10.2 thousand new jobs, a small increase and a quite
unusual occurrence for finance and real estate to have the most new jobs. Finance
and insurance had 4.6 thousand of the new jobs; real estate increased by 6.1
thousand jobs. Rental and leasing services declined slightly, down 300 jobs. The
other services category had a modest increase of 8 thousand jobs where repair
and maintenance services had 6.4 thousand of the new jobs, and also small job
increases in personal and laundry services and non-profit associations, both up
slightly.
Otherwise all sub sectors lost jobs starting with the
27.1 thousand jobs lost in leisure and hospitality. While the arts,
entertainment and recreation sub sector had 7.6 thousand new jobs, there were
big losses in accommodations and restaurants: accommodations down 5 thousand
jobs, restaurants down 29.7 thousand jobs.
Health care had an unusual and ominous job decline
with a net job loss of 18.6 thousand jobs. Part of the loss came from a California
strike of physicians where ambulatory care employment declined by 34 thousand
jobs. There was an additional 5.6 thousand decrease in nursing and residential
care. Two of the four of the health care subsectors had more jobs. Hospitals
did well adding 11.6 thousand jobs and social assistance services added 9.4
thousand jobs with individual and family services increasing by 12.4 thousand
jobs offset with small job declines in other social services.
Professional and business services were down a net 5
thousand jobs, a modest decline compared with recent months. The professional
and technical service sub sector was up 11.1 thousand jobs; management of
companies was off 2.0 thousand jobs. The third sub sector, administrative and
support services including waste management, lost another 14.3 thousand jobs.
Among professional and technical services, computer
systems and design services added 5.9 thousand new jobs; legal services added 2.6
thousand jobs. Management, scientific and technical consulting had 1.4 thousand
new jobs among small job losses in other sub sectors. Among administrative
support services, only waste management did well with 4.5 thousand new jobs.
Otherwise none of the support sub sectors did well with services to buildings
down 10.5 thousand jobs and business support services down 4.3 thousand jobs.
Trade, transportation and utilities had a net loss of 2
thousand jobs but wholesale and retail trade had a net job gain: wholesale up 6
thousand, retail up 2.3 thousand. Among modal transportation, air
transportation had job gains of 5.1 thousand jobs, but none of the other modal
sub sectors did well with small ups and downs. Jobs as couriers and messengers
were off 16.6 thousand jobs while warehousing and storage offset the losses, adding
a modest 2.3 thousand new jobs. Utilities picked up 1.3 thousand jobs, a third
month of increase.
Information
services declined 11 thousand jobs with motion picture and sound recording down
9.5 thousand jobs; computing, data processing, web hosting and web search
portals, libraries and archives was the only information service to add jobs,
but only 1.2 thousand.
The economy lost 92 thousand jobs for February. Establishment employment in February was reported as 158.466 million with an annual growth rate decline of -.70 percent. The economy has done remarkably well given a year of steady abuse by Trump. A steep recession or severe decline does not look likely, but there is no sign either that jobs will do well in the coming months. Make note that professional and business services had a year over year decline of 209 thousand jobs, a new and never before job loss. Month to month job declines appear likely after a year of policy misconduct. This month’s job total is only 156 thousand above February a year ago and 1.228 million jobs above February two years ago. The 156 thousand number is extremely low for a year of new jobs, and even lower than last month. It contrasts with yearly increases were over a million during the Biden administration.
March Details
Jobs
Total
Non-Farm Establishment Jobs down
92,000 to 158,466,000
Total
Private Jobs down
86,000 to 135,143,000
Total Government Employment down 6,000 to 23,323,000 Note
Civilian
Non-Institutional Population up 90 thousand to 274,766,000
Civilian
Labor Force up
18 thousand to 170,483,000
Employed down 185 thousand to 162,912,000
Employed
Men down
138 thousand to 85,210,000
Employed
Women
down 47 thousand to 77,702,000
Unemployed up 203 thousand to 7,571,000
Not in the Labor Force up 72 thousand to 104,283,000
Unemployment
Rate
went up .1% to 4.4% 7,571/170,483
Labor Force Participation Rate went down .1% to 62.0%, or 170,483/274,766
Summaries by Industry
Non Farm Total -92
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments decreased from January by 92 thousand jobs for a(n) February total of 158.466 million. (Note 1 below) A decrease of 92 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of -.70% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning February 2025 was +.10%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning February 2021 was +1.97%; from 15 years ago beginning February 2011 it was +1.27%. The higher five year growth rate derives from the low Pandemic employment. America needs growth around 1.5 percent a year to keep itself employed.
Sector breakdown for 12 Sectors in 000’s of jobs
1. Natural Resources -2
Natural Resources jobs including logging and mining decreased 2 thousand from January with 600 thousand jobs in February. A decrease of 2 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -3.99 percent. Natural resource jobs were down 22 thousand from a year ago. Jobs in 2000 averaged around 600 thousand with little prospect for growth. This is the smallest of 12 major sectors of the economy with .4 percent of establishment jobs.
2. Construction -11
Construction jobs were down 11 thousand from January with 8.309 million jobs in February. A decrease of 11 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.59 percent. Construction jobs are up 42 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 15 years is 2.85%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.2 percent of non-farm employment.
3. Manufacturing -12
Manufacturing jobs were down 12 thousand from January with 12.573 million jobs in February. A decrease of 12 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.14 percent. Manufacturing jobs were down for the last 12 months by 98 thousand. The growth rate for the last 15 years is +.52%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 8.0 percent of establishment jobs.
4. Trade, Transportation &
Utility -2
Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were down 2 thousand jobs from January with 28.615 million jobs in February. A decrease of 2 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.08 percent. Jobs are down by 191 thousand for last 12 months. Growth rates for the last 15 years are +.97 percent. Jobs in these sectors rank first as the biggest sectors with combined employment of 18.2 percent of total establishment employment.
5. Information Services -11
Information Services employment was down by 11 thousand jobs from January with 2.812 million jobs in February. (Note 2 below) A decrease of 11 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of –4.68 percent. Jobs are down by 64 thousand for the last 12 months. Information jobs reached 3.7 million at the end of 2000, but started dropping, reaching 3 million by 2004 but has stayed close to 3.0 million in the last decade. Information Services is a small sector ranking 11th of 12 with 1.8 percent of establishment jobs.
6. Financial Activities +10
Financial Activities jobs were up by 10 thousand jobs from January to 9.166 million in February. An increase of 10 thousand jobs for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.31 percent. Jobs are down by 33 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 3 below) This sector also includes real estate as well as real estate lending. The 15 year growth rate is +1.19 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.
7. Business and Professional
Services -5
Business and Professional Service jobs went down 5 thousand from January to 22.385 million in February. A decrease of 5 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.27 percent. Jobs are down 209 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 15 years was -.27 percent. It ranks as 2nd among the 12 sectors now. It was 2nd in 1993, when manufacturing was bigger and third rank now with 14.2 percent of establishment employment.
8. Education including public and
private -8
Education jobs were down 8 thousand jobs from January at 14.885 million in February. A decrease of 8 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.64 percent. These include public and private education. Jobs are down 11 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.64 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.3 percent of establishment jobs.
9. Health Care -19
Health care jobs were down 19 thousand from January to 23.685 million in February. A decrease of 19 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.94 percent. Jobs are up 677 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6) The health care long term 15-year growth rate has been +2.26 percent lately compared to -.94 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 14.5 percent of establishment jobs.
10. Leisure and hospitality -27
Leisure and hospitality jobs were down 27 thousand from January to 16.922 million in February. (note 7) A decrease of 27 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.91 percent. Jobs are down 9 thousand for the last 12 months. More than 80 percent of leisure and hospitality are accommodations and restaurants assuring that most of the new jobs are in restaurants. Leisure and hospitality ranks 4th of 12 with 10.7 percent of establishment jobs. It moved up to 7th from 4th in the pandemic decline.
11. Other +8
Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were up 8 thousand from January to 6.039 million in February. An increase of 8 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.39 percent. Jobs are up 62 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 8) Other services had +.83 percent growth for the last 15 years. These sectors rank 10th of 12 with 3.8 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
12. Government, excluding education
-13
Government service employment went down 13 thousand from January at 12.475 million jobs in February. A decrease of 13 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of –1.24 percent. Jobs are down 244 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 9) Government jobs excluding education tend to increase slowly with a 15 year growth rate of +.31 percent. Government, excluding education, ranks 7th of 12 with 8.0 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.
Prices and inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers was up by a monthly average of 2.9 percent for 2025.
The CPI February report for the 12 months ending with January shows the
CPI for All Items was up 3.0%
CPI for Food and Beverages was up
3.0%
CPI for Housing was up 3.6%
CPI for Apparel was up .6%
CPI for Transportation including
gasoline was up .4%
CPI for Medical Care was up
3.2%
CPI for Recreation was up 3.0%
CPI for Education was up 2.9%
CPI for Communication was down
1.5%
Sector Notes__________________________
(1) The total cited above is non-farm establishment employment that counts jobs and not people. If one person has two jobs then two jobs are counted. It excludes agricultural employment and the self employed. Out of a total of people employed agricultural employment typically has about 1.5 percent, the self employed about 6.8 percent, the rest make up wage and salary employment. Jobs and people employed are close to the same, but not identical numbers because jobs are not the same as people employed: some hold two jobs. Remember all these totals are jobs. back
(2) Information Services is part of the new North American Industry Classification System(NAICS). It includes firms or establishments in publishing, motion picture & sound recording, broadcasting, Internet publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, ISPs, web search portals, data processing, libraries, archives and a few others.back
(3) Financial Activities includes deposit and non-deposit credit firms, most of which are still known as banks, savings and loan and credit unions, but also real estate firms and general and commercial rental and leasing.back
(4) Business and Professional services includes the professional areas such as legal services, architecture, engineering, computing, advertising and supporting services including office services, facilities support, services to buildings, security services, employment agencies and so on.back
(5) Education includes private and public education. Therefore education job totals include public schools and colleges as well as private schools and colleges. back
(6) Health care includes ambulatory care, private hospitals, nursing and residential care, and social services including child care. back
(7) Leisure and hospitality has establishment with arts, entertainment and recreation which has performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, fitness centers and others, which are the leisure part. The hospitality part has accommodations, motels, hotels, RV parks, and full service and fast food restaurants. back
(8) Other is a smorgasbord of repair and maintenance services, especially car repair, personal services and non-profit services of organizations like foundations, social advocacy and civic groups, and business, professional, labor unions, political groups and political parties. back
(9) Government job totals include federal, state, and local government administrative work but without education jobs. back
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Notes
Jobs are not the same as employment because jobs are counted once but one person could have two jobs adding one to employment but two to jobs. Also the employment numbers include agricultural workers, the self employed, unpaid family workers, household workers and those on unpaid leave. Jobs are establishment jobs and non-other. back
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