In March 2012, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 29 states and the
District of Columbia, decreased in 20 states, and was unchanged in
Alabama. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in
New York (+19,100), followed by California (+18,200) and Arizona
(+13,500). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred
in Ohio (-9,500), followed by New Jersey (-8,600) and Wisconsin (-4,500).
Arizona experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in
employment (+0.6 percent), followed by the District of Columbia and
Nebraska (+0.5 percent each). Maine experienced the largest over-the-month
percentage decline in employment (-0.5 percent), followed by Wyoming
(-0.3 percent). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 45 states
and the District of Columbia, decreased in 4 states, and was unchanged in
Alabama. The largest over-the-year percentage increase occurred in North
Dakota (+6.5 percent). The largest over-the-year percentage decrease in
employment occurred in Wisconsin (-0.9 percent).