Missouri nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 3,200 jobs in March 2026, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from February’s rate of 3.9 percent. Government employment increased by 200 jobs and private industry employment decreased by 3,400 jobs. Over the year, there was a decrease of 8,400 jobs from March 2025 to March 2026, and the unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point, from 4 percent in March 2025 to 3.9 percent in March 2026.

EMPLOYMENT  

Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 2,982,500 in March 2026, down by 3,200 from the revised February 2026 figure. The February 2026 total was revised downward by 400 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Total government employment increased by 200 jobs over the month, with state government increasing by 300 jobs and federal government employment decreasing by 100 jobs. Local government employment was unchanged in March. Goods-producing industries decreased by 100 jobs over the month, with mining, logging, and construction gaining 1,100 jobs and manufacturing declining by 1,200 jobs. Private service-providing industries declined by 3,300 jobs between February 2026 and March 2026. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in leisure and hospitality (3,000 jobs). Employment decreased in professional and business services (-3,500 jobs); private education and health services (-900 jobs); other services (-800 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-600 jobs); financial activities (-400 jobs); and information (-100 jobs).

Over the year, total payroll employment decreased by 8,400 jobs from March 2025 to March 2026. Employment increased in mining, logging, and construction (7,800); leisure and hospitality (7,700); and private education and health services (2,300). Employment declines were in professional and business services (-10,400 jobs); manufacturing (-4,400 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (-3,100 jobs); other services (-1,100 jobs); and information (-400 jobs). Employment in financial activities was unchanged over the year. Government employment decreased by 6,800 jobs, with an increase in local government (600 jobs) and declines in federal (-5,600 jobs) and state government (-1,800 jobs).

UNEMPLOYMENT

Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged in March 2026 at 3.9 percent. The March 2026 rate was one-tenth of a point lower than the March 2025 rate. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 122,285 in March 2026, down by 192 from February's 122,477.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased in March 2026, declining by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.2 percent from the February 2026 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.3 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 4.4 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for March 2026 was 4.3 percent.

Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.5 percent in March 2026, 1.6 percentage points higher than the national rate of 61.9 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61.1 percent in March 2026, 1.9 percentage points higher than the national rate of 59.2 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in March 2026, four-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.3 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 10 years.

Read the full report at https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report.