April 2026_________________________
Labor line has job news and commentary with a one stop short cut for America’s job markets and job related data including the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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The BLS Establishment Job Report with data released April 3, 2026.
Commentary From This Month’s Establishment Jobs Press Report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published its April report for jobs in March. The Household survey for March shows the civilian population increased by only 92 thousand. Last month population increased by only 90 thousand. These low monthly increases are less than any two months since 1990, where my data files begin. The low numbers suggest the Trump attacks on immigration will prevent the growth of the labor force in the future.
The labor force declined by 396 thousand in March, which was a decrease of 64 thousand employed and a 332 thousand decline in the unemployed. Those not in the labor force increased by 488 thousand or a combination of 396 thousand leaving the labor force and 92 thousand population growth not entering the labor force. The decrease in the unemployed and the labor force was large enough to lower the unemployment rate .1 percent to 4.3 percent. The labor force participation rate declined to 61.9 percent, the lowest in decades.
The seasonally adjusted total of establishment
employment was up 178 thousand for March. The increase was 143 thousand more
jobs in the private service sector combined with an increase of 43 thousand
jobs from goods production. The total of 186 thousand new jobs in the private
sector combined with a(n) decrease of 8 thousand government service jobs
accounts for the total decrease.
Goods production increased by 44 thousand jobs with increases
coming in all three subsectors. Natural resources increased 2 thousand jobs and
construction recovered from last month’s losses with 26.5 thousand new jobs. Specialty
trade contractors did well with 15.1 thousand jobs after last month’s decrease.
Construction of buildings added 7.6 thousand jobs; heavy and engineering
construction jobs were up 3.8 thousand jobs. Manufacturing had a net gain of 15
thousand jobs with all the increase in durable goods employment; non-durable
goods production did poorly with a net of zero new job. Among durable goods transportation
equipment including automobiles added 6.5 thousand jobs; fabricated metal
products, wood products and nonmetallic mineral products manufacturing had
modest job gains. Among non-durable goods, rubber and rubber products and
beverage, tobacco and leather products added enough jobs to offset job losses
in food processing and chemical products for a net of zero jobs.
Government service employment decreased 8 thousand
jobs, a larger loss than last month. The federal government lost 18 thousand jobs.
State government jobs were down 4 thousand offset by local government up 14
thousand jobs. State and local government jobs excluding education increased 3.9
thousand. State public education was down 3 thousand jobs while local
government education was up 9.2 thousand jobs. Private sector education increased
1.7 thousand jobs, which brings the total of education to an increase of 7.9
thousand seasonally adjusted jobs.
Health care took first place for private service
sector job gains with 90 thousand, a return after last month’s job losses. All
four of the health care subsectors had more jobs with ambulatory care adding
54.3 thousand jobs; hospitals added 14.9 thousand jobs, a good month for
hospitals; nursing and residential care were up 7.2 thousand jobs. Social
assistance services added 13.5 thousand jobs including 10.9 thousand new jobs
coming in individual and family services. The growth rate for health care was up
from last month to 2.95 percent, above the average of 2.27 percent per month of
the last 15 years.
Trade, transportation and utilities had a net gain of
33 thousand jobs with both wholesale and retail trade adding jobs: wholesale up
3.3 thousand, retail up 9.7 thousand. Transportation had 21 thousand new jobs,
but 20.4 thousand of the jobs were as couriers and messengers with modal
transportation adding a few hundred jobs mostly in airline transportation.
Utilities lost 1.2 thousand jobs, after last month’s increase.
Professional and business services were up a net of
only 2.2 thousand jobs, a small change much like recent months. The
professional and technical service sub sector was down a net 13.5 thousand
jobs; management of companies was off another 2.8 thousand jobs. The third sub
sector, administrative and support services including waste management, added
18.5 thousand jobs.
Among professional and technical services, computer
systems and design services lost 13.5 thousand jobs; Accounting, bookkeeping services
lost 3.1 thousand jobs; management, scientific and technical consulting lost a thousand
jobs offset by 4 thousand architecture and engineering service jobs along among
other small changes. Among administrative support services, employment services
including temporary help services added 11 thousand jobs. Otherwise services to
buildings 2.7 thousand jobs among other small changes.
Leisure and hospitality added 43.4 thousand jobs. The
arts, entertainment and recreation sub sector had 14 thousand new jobs with
performing arts and spectator sports adding 11.5 thousand of the jobs.
Accommodations added 7.9 thousand new jobs; restaurants were up 21.5 thousand
jobs.
Finance and real
estate lost a net 15 thousand jobs, after last month’s increase. Finance and
insurance lost 16.2 thousand of the jobs where credit intermediation i.e.
banks, lost 8.5 thousand jobs among other job declines. Real estate lost another
3.2 thousand jobs offset by an increase of 4.6 thousand jobs in rental and
leasing services. Information services declined 3 thousand jobs with motion
picture and sound recording down 1.1 thousand jobs; computing, data processing,
web hosting and web search portals, libraries and archives was off a net 900
jobs. Telecommunications was down 1.6 thousand jobs as well. The other services
category had an 8.7 thousand job decline where repair and maintenance services lost
6.8 thousand jobs, and personal and laundry services lost another 5 thousand
jobs; only non-profit associations added jobs: 3.1 thousand.
The economy added
178 thousand jobs for March. Establishment employment in March was reported as
158.637 million with an annual growth rate of 1.35 percent. A significant part
of this month’s job increase comes from a revision of last months employment,
which recall was first given as a decline of 92 thousand jobs but revised to a
decline of 133 thousand, or 41 thousand more jobs added to this month’s
increase. Otherwise the jobs report returned to the monthly changes from 2025
where health care added just over 50
percent of the new jobs and professional and business services came in with
unusual lows; trade, transportation and leisure and hospitality helped out about
as usual with jobs mostly at restaurants. This month’s job total is only 260
thousand above March a year ago and 1.171 million jobs above March two years
ago. The 260 thousand number remains extremely low
for a year of new jobs, which should be over a million.
NOTE: With Trump in office charges of false reporting of data have occasionally surfaced in the media. The data is produced by several hundreds people spread in state offices and in Washington, DC. It is quite unlikely professional staff could or would falsify their work. They do rely on corporate America to report their individual job numbers correctly. Given the current political climate, it seems possible some might be pressured to report falsely high numbers. However, corporate America reviews the data for their own use, which makes it less likely much of corporate America would promote falsely reported data. Data is produced; it is not manna from heaven.
March Details
Jobs
Total
Non-Farm Establishment Jobs up
178,000 to 158,637,000
Total
Private Jobs up
186,000 to 135,320,000
Total Government Employment down 8,000 to 23,317,000 Note
Civilian
Non-Institutional Population up 92 thousand to 274,858,000
Civilian
Labor Force down
396 thousand to 170,087,000
Employed down 64 thousand to 162,848,000
Employed
Men down
99 thousand to 85,111,000
Employed
Women
up 35 thousand to 77,737,000
Unemployed down 332 thousand to 7,239,000
Not in the Labor Force up 488 thousand to 104,771,000
Unemployment
Rate
went down .1% to 4.3% 7,239/170,087
Labor Force Participation Rate went down .1% to 61.9%, or 170,087/274,858
Summaries by Industry
Non Farm Total +178
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments increased from February by 178 thousand jobs for a(n) March total of 158.637 million. (Note 1 below) An increase of 178 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of +1.35% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning March 2025 was +.16%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning March 2021 was +1.89%; from 15 years ago beginning March 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 increased 2 thousand from February with 603 thousand jobs in March. An increase 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 17 thousand from a year ago. Jobs in 2000 averaged around 603 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 +26
Construction jobs were up 26 thousand from February with 8.330 million jobs in March. An increase of 26 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.76 percent. Construction jobs are up 57 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 15 years is 2.83%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.3 percent of non-farm employment.
3. Manufacturing +15
Manufacturing jobs were up 15 thousand from February with 12.591 million jobs in March. An increase of 15 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.43 percent. Manufacturing jobs were down for the last 12 months by 75 thousand. The growth rate for the last 15 years is +.51%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 7.9 percent of establishment jobs.
4. Trade, Transportation &
Utility +33
Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were up 33 thousand jobs from February with 28.638 million jobs in March. An increase of 33 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.38 percent. Jobs are down by 154 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 18.1 percent of total establishment employment.
5. Information Services -3
Information Services employment was down by 3 thousand jobs from February with 2.791 million jobs in March. (Note 2 below) A decrease of 3 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of –2.67 percent. Jobs are down by 76 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 -15
Financial Activities jobs were down by 15 thousand jobs from February to 9.134 million in March. A decrease of 15 thousand jobs for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.97 percent. Jobs are down by 67 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 +1.16 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.
7. Business and Professional
Services +2
Business and Professional Service jobs went up 2 thousand from February to 22.417 million in March. An increase of 2 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.11 percent. Jobs are down 40 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 15 years was +1.79 percent. It ranks as 2nd among the 12 sectors now. It was 2nd in 1993, when manufacturing was bigger and third rank now with 14.1 percent of establishment employment.
8. Education including public and
private +8
Education jobs were up 8 thousand jobs from February at 14.898 million in March. An increase 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 4 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.65 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.4 percent of establishment jobs.
9. Health Care +90
Health care jobs were up 90 thousand from February to 23.757 million in March. An increase of 90 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +4.56 percent. Jobs are up 681 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6) The health care long term 15-year growth rate has been +2.27 percent lately compared to +4.56 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 15.0 percent of establishment jobs.
10. Leisure and hospitality +44
Leisure and hospitality jobs were up 44 thousand from February to 16.999 million in March. (note 7) An increase of 44 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.11 percent. Jobs are down 4 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 -9
Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were down 9 thousand from February to 6.022 million in March. A decrease of 9 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.79 percent. Jobs are up 35 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 8) Other services had +.81 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
-14
Government service employment went down 14 thousand from February at 12.458 million jobs in March. A decrease of 14 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of –1.36 percent. Jobs are down 255 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 7.9 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 March report for the 12 months ending with February shows the
CPI for All Items was up 2.4%
CPI for Food and Beverages was up
3.0%
CPI for Housing was up 3.3%
CPI for Apparel was up 2.5%
CPI for Transportation including
gasoline was down .5%
CPI for Medical Care was up 3.4%
CPI for Recreation was up 2.6%
CPI for Education was up 2.8%
CPI for Communication was down 2.2%
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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