State payrolls were fairly strong in March, but less eye-popping than in February. 10 states saw statistically significant increases from February, but none saw percentage gains above .6 (Maine and Massachusetts). California again had the largest absolute increase (60,200). Over the last 12 months 49 states and the District Columbia statistically significant increases in payroll employment. Alaska's point estimate in March 2022 was above that of March 2021, but the increase was not seen as statistically significant. Alaska, Alabama, and West Virginia were the only localities with increases less than 2 percent.

A truly remarkable 37 states saw a statistically significant drop in their unemployment rate in March. Rhode Island's fell .5 percentage point. Among the 50 states the range in unemployment continues to narrow (from 2.0 percent in Nebraska and Utah to 5.3 percent in New Mexico; DC is at 6.0 percent).

Puerto Rico's numbers also continue to improve, with a small gain in jobs in March, and the unemployment rate moving down to 6.5 percent.