Introduction
The employment rate in the United States has seen dramatic variations between different states in recent years. After the economic recession of 2008, the year with the highest unemployment rate since 1982, many states have been struggling to fully recover and rebuild their labor markets. Currently, there are states that are able to boast an impressive employment rate such as Nebraska, North, and South Dakota. However, certain states like Mississippi, New Mexico, and West Virginia have considerably higher unemployment rates. This is mostly due to the lack of specific industries or resources available in some areas, making it harder for them to create jobs and attract talent from other parts of the country. Despite this fact, some initiatives implemented by state governments have proven successful in bringing these numbers down by incentivizing businesses to invest in new projects or hiring initiatives. These efforts combined with numerous federal policies enacted in different administrations throughout the years have greatly helped reduce unemployment in some parts of the US while others still weep results from such actions.
| # | State | Employment Rate | Civilian Labor Force | Unemployed Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska | 68.7% | 1,063,182 | 22,363 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 68.6% | 385,046 | 19,816 |
| 3 | North Dakota | 67.5% | 408,906 | 9,277 |
| 4 | South Dakota | 67.2% | 47,838 | 11,000 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 67.1% | 3,082,333 | 58,258 |
| 6 | Colorado | 66.9% | 3,257,886 | 111,878 |
| 7 | Utah | 66.7% | 1,735,513 | 35,505 |
| 8 | Iowa | 65.8% | 1,709,545 | 44,698 |
| 9 | Kansas | 64.9% | 1,501,107 | 38,170 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 64.6% | 3,125,558 | 96,262 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 64.1% | 769,176 | 15,542 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 63.5% | 3,762,959 | 134,742 |
| 13 | Alaska | 63.1% | 361,918 | 16,661 |
| 14 | Maryland | 63% | 3,226,267 | 138,107 |
| 15 | Washington | 62.7% | 4,020,402 | 149,242 |
| 16 | Virginia | 61.9% | 4,346,828 | 114,105 |
| 17 | Connecticut | 61.8% | 1,905,529 | 77,702 |
| 18 | Illinois | 61.7% | 6,458,390 | 290,027 |
| 19 | Wyoming | 61.6% | 289,642 | 9,071 |
| 20 | Indiana | 61.5% | 3,401,743 | 95,218 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 61.4% | 575,093 | 16,348 |
| 22 | Missouri | 61.3% | 3,051,614 | 76,156 |
| 23 | Oregon | 61.2% | 2,206,930 | 81,977 |
| 24 | Texas | 61.1% | 14,595,814 | 594,584 |
| 25 | Montana | 61% | 567,249 | 15,868 |
| 26 | Idaho | 60.8% | 956,796 | 25,697 |
| 27 | Georgia | 60.5% | 5,278,849 | 149,654 |
| 28 | New Jersey | 60.3% | 4,693,253 | 188,221 |
| 29 | Vermont | 60.1% | 336,176 | 6,995 |
| 30 | California | 59.6% | 19,348,044 | 783,822 |
| 31 | Ohio | 59.5% | 5,787,036 | 228,949 |
| 32 | Tennessee | 59.1% | 3,399,015 | 114,679 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 59% | 1,882,148 | 57,484 |
| 34 | Arizona | 58.9% | 3,595,506 | 125,050 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | 58.8% | 6,447,729 | 272,464 |
| 36 | Delaware | 58.4% | 500,666 | 22,331 |
| 37 | North Carolina | 58.4% | 5,124,349 | 179,521 |
| 38 | Hawaii | 58.1% | 678,994 | 27,354 |
| 39 | Florida | 57.4% | 10,705,514 | 292,609 |
| 40 | Michigan | 57.4% | 4,858,848 | 200,680 |
| 41 | Nevada | 57.2% | 1,527,090 | 66,464 |
| 42 | New York | 57.2% | 9,542,654 | 445,097 |
| 43 | Maine | 57.1% | 676,897 | 21,092 |
| 44 | Louisiana | 56.7% | 2,096,105 | 73,895 |
| 45 | Kentucky | 55.9% | 2,062,996 | 78,292 |
| 46 | Alabama | 55.6% | 2,293,693 | 58,913 |
| 47 | South Carolina | 55.6% | 2,394,720 | 74,521 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 55.1% | 1,354,290 | 45,636 |
| 49 | New Mexico | 54% | 946,604 | 41,821 |
| 50 | Mississippi | 53.3% | 1,265,752 | 45,237 |
| 51 | West Virginia | 53.2% | 796,918 | 30,979 |
Employment Rate by State
Alabama
Employment Rate
55.6%
Ranked in the US
#46
Civilian Labor Force
2,293,693
Ranked in the US
#24
Unemployed Population
58,913
Ranked in the US
#29
Alaska
Employment Rate
63.1%
Ranked in the US
#13
Civilian Labor Force
361,918
Ranked in the US
#48
Unemployed Population
16,661
Ranked in the US
#45
Arizona
Employment Rate
58.9%
Ranked in the US
#34
Civilian Labor Force
3,595,506
Ranked in the US
#15
Unemployed Population
125,050
Ranked in the US
#15
Arkansas
Employment Rate
55.1%
Ranked in the US
#48
Civilian Labor Force
1,354,290
Ranked in the US
#34
Unemployed Population
45,636
Ranked in the US
#32
California
Employment Rate
59.6%
Ranked in the US
#30
Civilian Labor Force
19,348,044
Ranked in the US
#1
Unemployed Population
783,822
Ranked in the US
#1
Colorado
Employment Rate
66.9%
Ranked in the US
#6
Civilian Labor Force
3,257,886
Ranked in the US
#18
Unemployed Population
111,878
Ranked in the US
#18
Connecticut
Employment Rate
61.8%
Ranked in the US
#17
Civilian Labor Force
1,905,529
Ranked in the US
#28
Unemployed Population
77,702
Ranked in the US
#23
Delaware
Employment Rate
58.4%
Ranked in the US
#36
Civilian Labor Force
500,666
Ranked in the US
#45
Unemployed Population
22,331
Ranked in the US
#42
District of Columbia
Employment Rate
68.6%
Ranked in the US
#2
Civilian Labor Force
385,046
Ranked in the US
#47
Unemployed Population
19,816
Ranked in the US
#44
Florida
Employment Rate
57.4%
Ranked in the US
#39
Civilian Labor Force
10,705,514
Ranked in the US
#3
Unemployed Population
292,609
Ranked in the US
#4
Georgia
Employment Rate
60.5%
Ranked in the US
#27
Civilian Labor Force
5,278,849
Ranked in the US
#8
Unemployed Population
149,654
Ranked in the US
#11
Hawaii
Employment Rate
58.1%
Ranked in the US
#38
Civilian Labor Force
678,994
Ranked in the US
#41
Unemployed Population
27,354
Ranked in the US
#39
Idaho
Employment Rate
60.8%
Ranked in the US
#26
Civilian Labor Force
956,796
Ranked in the US
#37
Unemployed Population
25,697
Ranked in the US
#40
Illinois
Employment Rate
61.7%
Ranked in the US
#18
Civilian Labor Force
6,458,390
Ranked in the US
#5
Unemployed Population
290,027
Ranked in the US
#5
Indiana
Employment Rate
61.5%
Ranked in the US
#20
Civilian Labor Force
3,401,743
Ranked in the US
#16
Unemployed Population
95,218
Ranked in the US
#20
Iowa
Employment Rate
65.8%
Ranked in the US
#8
Civilian Labor Force
1,709,545
Ranked in the US
#31
Unemployed Population
44,698
Ranked in the US
#34
Kansas
Employment Rate
64.9%
Ranked in the US
#9
Civilian Labor Force
1,501,107
Ranked in the US
#33
Unemployed Population
38,170
Ranked in the US
#36
Kentucky
Employment Rate
55.9%
Ranked in the US
#45
Civilian Labor Force
2,062,996
Ranked in the US
#27
Unemployed Population
78,292
Ranked in the US
#22
Louisiana
Employment Rate
56.7%
Ranked in the US
#44
Civilian Labor Force
2,096,105
Ranked in the US
#26
Unemployed Population
73,895
Ranked in the US
#26
Maine
Employment Rate
57.1%
Ranked in the US
#43
Civilian Labor Force
676,897
Ranked in the US
#42
Unemployed Population
21,092
Ranked in the US
#43
Maryland
Employment Rate
63%
Ranked in the US
#14
Civilian Labor Force
3,226,267
Ranked in the US
#19
Unemployed Population
138,107
Ranked in the US
#13
Massachusetts
Employment Rate
63.5%
Ranked in the US
#12
Civilian Labor Force
3,762,959
Ranked in the US
#14
Unemployed Population
134,742
Ranked in the US
#14
Michigan
Employment Rate
57.4%
Ranked in the US
#40
Civilian Labor Force
4,858,848
Ranked in the US
#10
Unemployed Population
200,680
Ranked in the US
#8
Minnesota
Employment Rate
67.1%
Ranked in the US
#5
Civilian Labor Force
3,082,333
Ranked in the US
#21
Unemployed Population
58,258
Ranked in the US
#30
Mississippi
Employment Rate
53.3%
Ranked in the US
#50
Civilian Labor Force
1,265,752
Ranked in the US
#35
Unemployed Population
45,237
Ranked in the US
#33
Missouri
Employment Rate
61.3%
Ranked in the US
#22
Civilian Labor Force
3,051,614
Ranked in the US
#22
Unemployed Population
76,156
Ranked in the US
#24
Montana
Employment Rate
61%
Ranked in the US
#25
Civilian Labor Force
567,249
Ranked in the US
#44
Unemployed Population
15,868
Ranked in the US
#47
Nebraska
Employment Rate
68.7%
Ranked in the US
#1
Civilian Labor Force
1,063,182
Ranked in the US
#36
Unemployed Population
22,363
Ranked in the US
#41
Nevada
Employment Rate
57.2%
Ranked in the US
#41
Civilian Labor Force
1,527,090
Ranked in the US
#32
Unemployed Population
66,464
Ranked in the US
#28
New Hampshire
Employment Rate
64.1%
Ranked in the US
#11
Civilian Labor Force
769,176
Ranked in the US
#40
Unemployed Population
15,542
Ranked in the US
#48
New Jersey
Employment Rate
60.3%
Ranked in the US
#28
Civilian Labor Force
4,693,253
Ranked in the US
#11
Unemployed Population
188,221
Ranked in the US
#9
New Mexico
Employment Rate
54%
Ranked in the US
#49
Civilian Labor Force
946,604
Ranked in the US
#38
Unemployed Population
41,821
Ranked in the US
#35
New York
Employment Rate
57.2%
Ranked in the US
#42
Civilian Labor Force
9,542,654
Ranked in the US
#4
Unemployed Population
445,097
Ranked in the US
#3
North Carolina
Employment Rate
58.4%
Ranked in the US
#37
Civilian Labor Force
5,124,349
Ranked in the US
#9
Unemployed Population
179,521
Ranked in the US
#10
North Dakota
Employment Rate
67.5%
Ranked in the US
#3
Civilian Labor Force
408,906
Ranked in the US
#46
Unemployed Population
9,277
Ranked in the US
#50
Ohio
Employment Rate
59.5%
Ranked in the US
#31
Civilian Labor Force
5,787,036
Ranked in the US
#7
Unemployed Population
228,949
Ranked in the US
#7
Oklahoma
Employment Rate
59%
Ranked in the US
#33
Civilian Labor Force
1,882,148
Ranked in the US
#29
Unemployed Population
57,484
Ranked in the US
#31
Oregon
Employment Rate
61.2%
Ranked in the US
#23
Civilian Labor Force
2,206,930
Ranked in the US
#25
Unemployed Population
81,977
Ranked in the US
#21
Pennsylvania
Employment Rate
58.8%
Ranked in the US
#35
Civilian Labor Force
6,447,729
Ranked in the US
#6
Unemployed Population
272,464
Ranked in the US
#6
Rhode Island
Employment Rate
61.4%
Ranked in the US
#21
Civilian Labor Force
575,093
Ranked in the US
#43
Unemployed Population
16,348
Ranked in the US
#46
South Carolina
Employment Rate
55.6%
Ranked in the US
#47
Civilian Labor Force
2,394,720
Ranked in the US
#23
Unemployed Population
74,521
Ranked in the US
#25
South Dakota
Employment Rate
67.2%
Ranked in the US
#4
Civilian Labor Force
47,838
Ranked in the US
#51
Unemployed Population
11,000
Ranked in the US
#49
Tennessee
Employment Rate
59.1%
Ranked in the US
#32
Civilian Labor Force
3,399,015
Ranked in the US
#17
Unemployed Population
114,679
Ranked in the US
#16
Texas
Employment Rate
61.1%
Ranked in the US
#24
Civilian Labor Force
14,595,814
Ranked in the US
#2
Unemployed Population
594,584
Ranked in the US
#2
Utah
Employment Rate
66.7%
Ranked in the US
#7
Civilian Labor Force
1,735,513
Ranked in the US
#30
Unemployed Population
35,505
Ranked in the US
#37
Vermont
Employment Rate
60.1%
Ranked in the US
#29
Civilian Labor Force
336,176
Ranked in the US
#49
Unemployed Population
6,995
Ranked in the US
#52
Virginia
Employment Rate
61.9%
Ranked in the US
#16
Civilian Labor Force
4,346,828
Ranked in the US
#12
Unemployed Population
114,105
Ranked in the US
#17
Washington
Employment Rate
62.7%
Ranked in the US
#15
Civilian Labor Force
4,020,402
Ranked in the US
#13
Unemployed Population
149,242
Ranked in the US
#12
West Virginia
Employment Rate
53.2%
Ranked in the US
#51
Civilian Labor Force
796,918
Ranked in the US
#39
Unemployed Population
30,979
Ranked in the US
#38
Wisconsin
Employment Rate
64.6%
Ranked in the US
#10
Civilian Labor Force
3,125,558
Ranked in the US
#20
Unemployed Population
96,262
Ranked in the US
#19
Wyoming
Employment Rate
61.6%
Ranked in the US
#19
Civilian Labor Force
289,642
Ranked in the US
#50
Unemployed Population
9,071
Ranked in the US
#51
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