"Wisconsin's economy is turning around, but there is still a lot of work to do," said Cullen Werwie, spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker. "The state has added over 15,000 private sector jobs since the start of the year, and the state's unemployment rate is down to 6.8 percent. A year ago the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent; now it's at its lowest since 2008."

In addition, John Dipko, spokesman for the state Department of Workforce Development, noted new business formations in Wisconsin this year were up 12.2 percent through March, compared with the same period in 2011. He also said state tax revenue collections were up 4.2 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared with January-March of 2011.

But Democrats blamed Wisconsin's worrisome employment numbers on Walker and his policies, such as cuts to public education and vocational training.

"Scott Walker says he wants to make history and, shamefully, he has — making Wisconsin the national leader in job loss," said Mike Tate, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

The largest statistically significant job gains for March over February were in New York, at 19,100 more, followed by Arizona, at 13,500 gains, and Massachusetts, at 8,700.