BISMARCK, N.D. – Job Service North Dakota reported that labor statistics released today show North Dakota’s March not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.6 percent. The unemployment rate remained unchanged between February and March. March 2023’s rate was 0.1 of a percentage point lower than the current rate.

Between February 2024 and March 2024 unemployment fell by 28, a decrease of 0.3 percent. North Dakota typically sees a slight change in unemployment numbers between February and March. The over-the-year increase (March 2023 to March 2024) in unemployed labor force was 533, a gain of 5.2 percent.

The national not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 3.9 percent. It was 4.2 percent the prior month and 3.6 percent the prior year.

North Dakota Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force Data
March 2024
February 2024
March 2023
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
2.6%
2.5%
Unemployed
10,817
10,845
10,284
Employed
405,742
403,097
404,788
Labor Force
416,559
413,942
415,072

The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8 percent for the month, lower than the prior month by 0.1 of a percentage point and 0.3 of a percentage point higher than the same period one year ago. The seasonally adjusted rate for North Dakota was 2.0 percent, the same as the prior month, and 0.1 of a percentage point higher than one year ago. The seasonal adjustment process uses a statistical adjustment to accommodate predictable fluctuations between months such as length of daylight and typical weather, allowing for comparison between all months of a year.

In March, North Dakota ranked 1st among all states’ unemployment rates, at 2.0 percent. South Dakota came in 2nd place, with an unemployment rate of 2.1 percent.

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
March 2024
February 2024
March 2023
North Dakota
2.0%
2.0%
1.9%
United States
3.8%
3.9%
3.5%

North Dakota’s Nonfarm Employment
Preliminary estimates indicate North Dakota’s March 2024 not seasonally adjusted employment increased 0.7 percent (+3,000) from the same period one year ago and increased 0.2 percent (+700) over the month.

Eight of the 13 major industries reported year-over-year employment increases. Mining and Logging (+1,200), Wholesale Trade (+1,200), and Private Educational and Health Services (+1,200) tied with the largest over-the-year increases in employment. Additional prominent employment increases took place in Government (+1,000), Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (+800), and Manufacturing (+600).
Leisure and Hospitality (-1,300), Professional and Business Services (-1,100), Construction (-700), and Information (-400) reported decreases in employment. Retail Trade was the only super sector to remain unchanged.

METRO AREAS
Of North Dakota’s three metro areas, Bismarck was the only metro area to post an over-the-year decrease in employment (-400). The Fargo and Grand Forks metro areas posted employment gains of +1,800 and +1,000, respectively.

FARGO
• Eight of the major industries reported year-over-year employment increases. Private Educational and Health Services (+700), Government (+600), and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities (+500) posted prominent employment gains. Employment reductions were reported in Professional and Business Services (-600), Leisure and Hospitality (-300), Financial Activities (-200), and Information (-200).

GRAND FORKS
• Prominent employment gains took place in Government (+700), Manufacturing (+200), Mining, Logging and Construction (+200), and Private Educational and Health Services (+200). Employment reductions were reported in Leisure and Hospitality (-200), Retail Trade (-100), Financial Activities (-100), and Professional and Business Services (-100).

BISMARCK
• Employment gain was reported in Manufacturing (+100), Private Educational and Health Services (+100), Wholesale Trade (+100), and Mining, Logging and Construction (+100). Employment losses occurred in Government (-300), Retail Trade (-200), Professional and Business Services (-200), and Leisure and Hospitality (-100).