10:26 AM EDT, 04/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- State-level from the BLS showed that the unemployment rate fell in six states in March, rose in one state and held steady elsewhere.

The largest unemployment rate decline was in Arizona. North Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in March while California had the highest.

The national unemployment rate dropped to 3.8% in March from 3.9% in February.

Payrolls rose in five states, with Virginia and Georgia posting the largest increases in absolute terms.

Nationwide nonfarm payrolls increased by 303,000 in March after a 270,000 gain in February.

The St. Louis Fed's GDP nowcast estimate for Q1 was revised upwards to 1.71% from the 1.54% growth estimate a week ago.