March 2012 Data Released April 2012

In the U.S. economy:

• The U.S. economy increased by 1,949,000 nonagricultural jobs in March 2012 over March 2011, a 1.50 percent increase.
• The goods producing sector increased by 390,000 jobs, a 2.23 percent increase in March 2012 compared to March 2011.
• The service providing sector increased by 1,559,000 jobs in March 2012 over March 2011, a 1.38 percent increase.

Among the states:

• North Dakota recorded the largest increase in total nonagricultural jobs in March 2012 over March 2011, with a 6.58 percent increase representing 25,200 jobs.
• The largest rate of total nonagricultural jobs lost for March 2012, compared to March 2011, was in Wisconsin, with a 1.11 percent decrease (-30,000 jobs).
• Louisiana recorded a job increase (14,600 jobs) in the educational and health services sector, which equaled 5.09 percent growth in March 2012 compared to March 2011.
• Michigan recorded 5.27 percent job growth in the manufacturing sector in March 2012 compared to March 2011, which represents 26,100 jobs.
• Kentucky recorded 10.61 percent job growth in the professional and business services sector in March 2012 compared to March 2011, which represents 19,200 jobs.

Among the metro areas:

• In metropolitan markets with under 1,000,000 workers, the Ocean City, NJ metropolitan area ranked first in nonagricultural job growth for March 2012 over March 2011, posting a 11.11 percent gain, which represented 3,600 jobs.
• Among metropolitan markets with a workforce of over 1,000,000, the Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan area ranked first in nonagricultural job growth for March 2012 over March 2011, posting a 3.21 percent gain, which represented 82,300 jobs.