For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, March 4, 2020 USDL-20-0377 

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 • lausinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/lau 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2019 ANNUAL AVERAGES

In 2019, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 10 states, increased in 1 state, and were little 

changed in 39 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

Employment-population ratios increased in 16 states, decreased in 2 states, and were little changed in 32 

states and the District. The U.S. jobless rate declined by 0.2 percentage point from the prior year to 3.7 

percent, and the national employment-population ratio rose by 0.4 point to 60.8 percent. 

Regional Unemployment 

Three of the 4 census regions had unemployment rate decreases from 2018: the Northeast and South 

(-0.3 percentage point each) and West (-0.2 point). The South had the lowest jobless rate among the 

regions, 3.5 percent in 2019, while the West had the highest rate, 3.9 percent. No other region had a rate 

significantly different from that of the United States. In 2019, three regions recorded new series-low 

unemployment rates: the Northeast (3.7 percent), South (3.5 percent), and West (3.9 percent). All 

region, division, and state series begin in 1976. (See table 1.)

Five of the 9 geographic divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate changes in 2019, all of which 

were decreases. These declines occurred in New England and the South Atlantic (-0.4 percentage point 

each) and the Mountain, Pacific, and West South Central (-0.3 point each). The lowest jobless rates 

among the divisions were in New England and the West North Central, 3.1 percent each, followed by 

the South Atlantic, 3.3 percent. The highest rates were in the Middle Atlantic and Pacific, 4.0 percent 

each. The remaining four divisions had rates that were not significantly different from that of the United 

States. Five divisions recorded new series-low unemployment rates in 2019: the East South Central (3.8 

percent), Middle Atlantic (4.0 percent), Pacific (4.0 percent), South Atlantic (3.3 percent), and West 

South Central (3.6 percent). 

State Unemployment

Ten states had significant unemployment rate decreases in 2019, the largest of which occurred in

Alabama (-0.9 percentage point) and South Carolina (-0.7 point). Mississippi had the only over-the-year 

rate increase (+0.6 percentage point). The remaining 39 states and the District of Columbia had annual 

average jobless rates in 2019 that were not appreciably different from those of the previous year, though 

some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table A and 

map 1.) 
-2- 

North Dakota and Vermont had the lowest unemployment rates in 2019, 2.4 percent each. Alaska had 

the highest jobless rate, 6.1 percent. Overall, 17 states had unemployment rates significantly lower than 

the U.S. figure of 3.7 percent, 11 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 22 states had

rates that were not substantially different from that of the nation. Eighteen states newly recorded the 

lowest annual average unemployment rates in their respective series in 2019: Alabama (3.0 percent), 

Alaska (6.1 percent), Arkansas (3.5 percent), California (4.0 percent), Florida (3.1 percent), Georgia (3.4 

percent), Illinois (4.0 percent), Maine (3.0 percent), Nevada (3.9 percent), New Jersey (3.6 percent), 

New York (4.0 percent), North Dakota (2.4 percent), Oregon (3.7 percent), South Carolina (2.8 percent), 

Tennessee (3.4 percent), Texas (3.5 percent), Vermont (2.4 percent), and Washington (4.3 percent). (See 

table B and map 2.) 

Regional Employment-Population Ratios

In 2019, three census regions had significant changes in their employment-population ratios—the 

proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over who are employed—all of 

which were increases. These increases occurred in the Northeast (+0.5 percentage point) and South and 

West (+0.4 point each). The Midwest had the highest ratio, 62.7 percent, while the South, at 59.6 

percent, had the lowest. These two regions had the only ratios that were notably different from the 

national figure of 60.8 percent. (See table 2.)

Four of the 9 geographic divisions had increases in their employment-population ratios from 2018 to 

2019: the East South Central (+0.7 percentage point), Mountain (+0.6 point), Middle Atlantic (+0.5 

point), and South Atlantic (+0.4 point). The remaining five divisions had little or no change in their 

ratios over the year. The division with the highest employment-population ratio in 2019 was the West 

North Central, 65.8 percent, followed by New England, 64.7 percent. These two divisions, along with 

the Mountain and East North Central, at 62.3 percent and 61.3 percent, respectively, had employmentpopulation ratios significantly above that of the United States. The East South Central had the lowest 

proportion of employed persons, 57.2 percent. The Middle Atlantic, at 59.6 percent, South Atlantic, at 

59.8 percent, and Pacific, at 60.2 percent, also had ratios appreciably below the national average of 60.8 

percent. 

State Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2019, the largest employment-population ratio increase among the states occurred in Iowa (+1.5

percentage points), followed by West Virginia (+1.2 points) and New Jersey and Tennessee (+1.1 points 

each). Twelve other states also had significant increases in their ratios. Hawaii and Wisconsin were the 

only states with over-the-year decreases in their employment-population ratios (-0.9 percentage point 

and -0.8 point, respectively). The remaining 32 states and the District of Columbia had ratios that were 

not notably different from those of the previous year, though some had changes that were at least as 

large numerically as the significant changes. (See table C.)

Iowa had the highest proportion of employed persons in 2019, 68.5 percent, followed by Minnesota, 

68.0 percent. West Virginia and Mississippi had the lowest employment-population ratios among the 

states, 52.4 percent and 52.8 percent, respectively. Overall, 22 states and the District of Columbia had 

employment-population ratios significantly higher than the U.S. ratio of 60.8 percent and 17 states had 

ratios that were appreciably below it. Alaska had the lowest employment-population ratio in its series

(59.9 percent). (See table D and map 3.) 
-3- 

_____________ 

The State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2020 is scheduled to be 

released on Monday, March 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment 

and Unemployment news release for January 2020 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 

20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
-4- 

Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2018–19

annual averages

2018 2019

Alabama .................................. 3.9 3.0 -0.9

Colorado .................................. 3.2 2.8 -.4

Florida ..................................... 3.6 3.1 -.5

Georgia ................................... 3.9 3.4 -.5

Massachusetts ........................ 3.4 2.9 -.5

Mississippi .............................. 4.8 5.4 .6

Nevada .................................... 4.4 3.9 -.5

New Jersey .............................. 4.1 3.6 -.5

South Carolina ......................... 3.5 2.8 -.7

Texas ...................................... 3.8 3.5 -.3

Utah ........................................ 3.0 2.6 -.4

Rate

State Over-the-year rate 

change 
-5- 

State Rate 

United States .................................................. 3.7

Alabama ......................................................... 3.0

Alaska ............................................................ 6.1

Arizona ........................................................... 4.7

California ......................................................... 4.0

Colorado ......................................................... 2.8

District of Columbia .......................................... 5.5

Florida ............................................................ 3.1

Hawaii ............................................................. 2.7

Idaho .............................................................. 2.9

Iowa ................................................................ 2.7

Kansas ........................................................... 3.2

Kentucky ........................................................ 4.3

Louisiana ........................................................ 4.8

Maine ............................................................. 3.0

Massachusetts ................................................ 2.9

Minnesota ....................................................... 3.2

Mississippi ...................................................... 5.4

Nebraska ........................................................ 3.0

New Hampshire ............................................... 2.5

New Mexico .................................................... 4.9

North Dakota ................................................... 2.4

Ohio ............................................................... 4.1

Pennsylvania ................................................... 4.4

South Carolina ................................................. 2.8

Utah ............................................................... 2.6

Vermont .......................................................... 2.4

Virginia ........................................................... 2.8

Washington ..................................................... 4.3

West Virginia ................................................... 4.9

of the U.S., 2019 annual averages

Table B. States with unemployment rates significantly different from that
-6- 

Table C. States with statistically significant employment-population ratio changes,

2018–19 annual averages

2018 2019

Alabama .................................. 55.4 56.3 0.9

Arizona .................................... 58.2 59.2 1.0

California ................................. 59.6 59.9 .3

Florida ..................................... 57.1 57.5 .4

Hawaii ..................................... 60.2 59.3 -.9

Iowa ........................................ 67.0 68.5 1.5

Maryland ................................. 65.2 66.0 .8

Massachusetts ........................ 65.2 65.8 .6

Nevada .................................... 60.5 61.1 .6

New Jersey .............................. 60.2 61.3 1.1

New Mexico ............................. 54.7 55.4 .7

North Carolina .......................... 58.8 59.2 .4

Pennsylvania ............................ 59.9 60.4 .5

Tennessee ............................... 59.0 60.1 1.1

Virginia .................................... 63.5 64.3 .8

Washington ............................. 61.3 62.3 1.0

West Virginia ........................... 51.2 52.4 1.2

Wisconsin ............................... 65.6 64.8 -.8

State

Ratio Over-the-year ratio 

change 
-7- 

State Ratio 

United States .................................................. 60.8

Alabama ......................................................... 56.3

Arizona ........................................................... 59.2

Arkansas ........................................................ 56.1

California ......................................................... 59.9

Colorado ......................................................... 67.4

Connecticut ..................................................... 63.9

District of Columbia .......................................... 67.1

Florida ............................................................ 57.5

Hawaii ............................................................. 59.3

Idaho .............................................................. 62.6

Illinois ............................................................. 61.9

Indiana ............................................................ 62.4

Iowa ................................................................ 68.5

Kansas ........................................................... 64.6

Kentucky ........................................................ 56.8

Louisiana ........................................................ 55.8

Maryland ......................................................... 66.0

Massachusetts ................................................ 65.8

Michigan ......................................................... 59.2

Minnesota ....................................................... 68.0

Mississippi ...................................................... 52.8

Missouri .......................................................... 62.0

Nebraska ........................................................ 67.8

New Hampshire ............................................... 67.3

New Mexico .................................................... 55.4

New York ........................................................ 58.4

North Carolina .................................................. 59.2

North Dakota ................................................... 67.6

Oklahoma ....................................................... 58.8

Oregon ............................................................ 59.4

South Carolina ................................................. 56.8

South Dakota .................................................. 66.7

Texas ............................................................. 61.8

Utah ............................................................... 66.6

Vermont .......................................................... 64.5

Virginia ........................................................... 64.3

Washington ..................................................... 62.3

West Virginia ................................................... 52.4

Wisconsin ....................................................... 64.8

Wyoming ........................................................ 62.6

from that of the U.S., 2019 annual averages

Table D. States with employment-population ratios significantly different 
Technical Note

This release presents labor force and unemployment 

data for census regions and divisions and states from 

the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) 

program. The LAUS program is a federal-state 

cooperative endeavor.

Concepts

Definitions. The labor force and unemployment data 

are based on the same concepts and definitions as 

those used for the official national estimates obtained 

from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a sample 

survey of households that is conducted for the Bureau 

of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau. 

The LAUS program measures employed and 

unemployed persons on a place-of-residence basis. 

The universe for each is the civilian noninstitutional 

population 16 years of age and older. Employed 

persons are those who did any work at all for pay or 

profit in the reference week (the week including the 

12th of the month) or worked 15 hours or more without 

pay in a family business or farm, plus those not 

working who had a job from which they were 

temporarily absent, whether or not paid, for such 

reasons as labor management dispute, illness, or 

vacation. Unemployed persons are those who were not 

employed during the reference week (based on the 

definition above), had actively looked for a job 

sometime in the 4-week period ending with the 

reference week, and were currently available for work; 

persons on layoff expecting recall need not be looking 

for work to be counted as unemployed. The labor force 

is the sum of employed and unemployed persons. The 

unemployment rate is the number of unemployed 

persons expressed as a percent of the labor force. The 

employment-population ratio is the proportion of the 

civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age 

and older that is employed.

Method of estimation. Estimates for 48 of the 50 

states, the District of Columbia, the Los Angeles-Long 

Beach-Glendale metropolitan division, New York 

City, and the balances of California and New York 

State are produced using estimating equations based 

on regression techniques. This method uses data from 

several sources, including the CPS, the Current 

Employment Statistics (CES) survey of nonfarm 

payroll employment, and state unemployment 

insurance (UI) programs. Estimates for the state of 

California are derived by summing the estimates for 

the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan 

division and the balance of California. Similarly, 

estimates for New York State are derived by summing

the estimates for New York City and the balance of 

New York State. Estimates for all nine census 

divisions are based on a similar regression approach 

that does not incorporate CES or UI data. Estimates for 

census regions are obtained by summing the modelbased estimates for the component divisions and then 

calculating the unemployment rate. Each month, 

census division estimates are controlled to national 

totals; state estimates are then controlled to their 

respective division totals. Estimates for Puerto Rico 

are derived from a monthly household survey similar 

to the CPS. A detailed description of the estimation 

procedures is available from BLS upon request. 

Annual revisions. Labor force and unemployment 

data for prior years reflect adjustments made at the 

beginning of each year. The adjusted estimates 

incorporate updated population controls from the U.S. 

Census Bureau, any revisions in the other data sources, 

and model re-estimation. The population controls 

reflect extrapolation from the 2010 Census. In most 

years, historical data for the most recent 5 years (both 

seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted) are 

revised near the beginning of each calendar year, prior 

to the release of January estimates. Though the labor 

force estimates typically are updated for 5 years, the 

population estimates are revised back to the decennial 

estimates base (April 2010).

Reliability of the estimates

The estimates presented in this release are based on 

sample surveys, administrative data, and modeling 

and, thus, are subject to sampling and other types of 

errors. Sampling error is a measure of sampling 

variability—that is, variation that occurs by chance 

because a sample rather than the entire population is 

surveyed. Survey data also are subject to nonsampling 

errors, such as those which can be introduced into the 

data collection and processing operations. Estimates 

not directly derived from sample surveys are subject 

to additional errors resulting from the specific 

estimation processes used. In table 1, level estimates 

for states may not sum to level estimates for regions 

and divisions because of rounding. Unemployment 

rates and employment-population ratios are computed 

from unrounded levels and, thus, may differ slightly 

from rates and ratios computed using the rounded level 

estimates displayed in table 1.

Use of error measures. Changes in unemployment 

rates and employment-population ratios are cited in 

the analysis of this release only if they have been 

determined to be statistically significant. Furthermore, 

unemployment rates and employment-population 

ratios for the latest year generally are cited only if they 
have been determined to be significantly different 

from the corresponding U.S. measure. The underlying 

model-based error measures are available online at 

www.bls.gov/lau/lastderr.htm. BLS uses 90-percent 

confidence levels in determining whether changes in 

LAUS unemployment rates and employmentpopulation ratios are statistically significant. The 

average magnitude of the over-the-year change in an 

annual state unemployment rate that is required in 

order to be statistically significant at the 90-percent

confidence level is about 0.4 percentage point. The 

average magnitude of the over-the-year change in an 

annual state employment-population ratio that is

required in order to be statistically significant at the 

90-percent confidence level is about 0.5 percentage 

point. Measures of nonsampling error are not 

available.

Additional information

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice 

phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 

(800) 877-8339.
Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state,

2018–19 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Population Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate

2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019

United States ....................... 257,791 259,175 162,075 163,539 155,761 157,538 6,314 6,001 3.9 3.7 3.6 – 3.7 

Northeast ............................... 45,107 45,135 28,423 28,594 27,295 27,523 1,128 1,071 4.0 3.7 3.6 – 3.9 

New England ....................... 12,090 12,132 8,044 8,095 7,765 7,844 279 251 3.5 3.1 2.9 – 3.3 

Connecticut ...................... 2,882 2,884 1,901 1,914 1,822 1,842 79 71 4.1 3.7 3.2 – 4.3 

Maine ................................ 1,104 1,110 696 693 673 672 23 21 3.2 3.0 2.5 – 3.6 

Massachusetts ................. 5,613 5,635 3,785 3,817 3,658 3,707 127 111 3.4 2.9 2.6 – 3.2 

New Hampshire ................ 1,113 1,121 763 774 743 754 20 20 2.6 2.5 2.2 – 2.9 

Rhode Island .................... 861 864 555 556 532 536 22 20 4.0 3.6 3.0 – 4.1 

Vermont ............................ 517 518 345 342 336 334 9 8 2.5 2.4 2.0 – 2.7 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 33,017 33,003 20,378 20,499 19,529 19,679 849 821 4.2 4.0 3.8 – 4.2 

New Jersey ....................... 7,062 7,071 4,433 4,493 4,251 4,333 182 160 4.1 3.6 3.1 – 4.0 

New York .......................... 15,692 15,656 9,522 9,514 9,128 9,138 394 377 4.1 4.0 3.7 – 4.3 

Pennsylvania .................... 10,262 10,277 6,424 6,492 6,151 6,208 273 284 4.2 4.4 4.0 – 4.8 

Midwest .................................. 53,611 53,780 34,833 35,000 33,546 33,734 1,287 1,266 3.7 3.6 3.5 – 3.8 

East North Central .............. 37,030 37,112 23,653 23,679 22,700 22,766 953 912 4.0 3.9 3.7 – 4.0 

Illinois ................................ 10,020 10,001 6,464 6,447 6,185 6,191 279 256 4.3 4.0 3.6 – 4.3 

Indiana .............................. 5,209 5,246 3,382 3,387 3,264 3,275 118 112 3.5 3.3 2.9 – 3.7 

Michigan ........................... 7,975 7,993 4,909 4,937 4,705 4,736 203 201 4.1 4.1 3.7 – 4.5 

Ohio .................................. 9,215 9,239 5,781 5,802 5,522 5,564 259 239 4.5 4.1 3.7 – 4.5 

Wisconsin ......................... 4,610 4,633 3,118 3,105 3,025 3,001 94 104 3.0 3.3 2.9 – 3.8 

West North Central ............. 16,581 16,668 11,180 11,321 10,846 10,968 334 353 3.0 3.1 2.9 – 3.3 

Iowa .................................. 2,459 2,468 1,691 1,739 1,647 1,691 44 48 2.6 2.7 2.3 – 3.2 

Kansas .............................. 2,222 2,229 1,478 1,487 1,429 1,440 49 47 3.3 3.2 2.7 – 3.6 

Minnesota ......................... 4,390 4,424 3,071 3,110 2,981 3,009 90 100 2.9 3.2 2.8 – 3.6 

Missouri ............................ 4,791 4,811 3,053 3,083 2,957 2,982 96 102 3.2 3.3 2.9 – 3.7 

Nebraska .......................... 1,471 1,481 1,023 1,035 994 1,004 30 32 2.9 3.0 2.7 – 3.4 

North Dakota .................... 580 582 404 404 393 394 10 10 2.6 2.4 2.0 – 2.7 

South Dakota ................... 667 672 460 464 445 449 14 15 3.1 3.3 2.8 – 3.8 

South ...................................... 97,051 98,053 59,727 60,551 57,445 58,428 2,283 2,122 3.8 3.5 3.4 – 3.6 

South Atlantic ...................... 51,596 52,147 31,815 32,271 30,629 31,191 1,185 1,080 3.7 3.3 3.2 – 3.5 

Delaware .......................... 770 778 482 487 464 469 18 18 3.8 3.8 3.2 – 4.3 

District of Columbia .......... 574 577 405 410 382 387 23 22 5.7 5.5 4.9 – 6.1 

Florida ............................... 17,183 17,410 10,174 10,337 9,809 10,016 365 321 3.6 3.1 2.8 – 3.4 

Georgia ............................. 8,091 8,196 5,080 5,110 4,880 4,935 200 175 3.9 3.4 3.0 – 3.8 

Maryland ........................... 4,748 4,761 3,222 3,261 3,095 3,144 127 117 3.9 3.6 3.1 – 4.0 

North Carolina .................. 8,137 8,243 4,986 5,080 4,788 4,884 198 197 4.0 3.9 3.5 – 4.3 

South Carolina ................. 4,003 4,063 2,340 2,376 2,259 2,308 81 68 3.5 2.8 2.4 – 3.3 

Virginia .............................. 6,634 6,672 4,341 4,412 4,210 4,289 132 123 3.0 2.8 2.4 – 3.1 

West Virginia .................... 1,455 1,447 785 797 744 758 41 39 5.2 4.9 4.4 – 5.5 

East South Central .............. 14,940 15,023 8,798 8,935 8,447 8,596 351 339 4.0 3.8 3.5 – 4.1 

Alabama ........................... 3,846 3,862 2,217 2,242 2,131 2,174 86 67 3.9 3.0 2.6 – 3.4 

Kentucky ........................... 3,484 3,494 2,058 2,073 1,969 1,984 89 89 4.3 4.3 3.7 – 4.9 

Mississippi ........................ 2,286 2,287 1,269 1,276 1,208 1,207 61 69 4.8 5.4 4.8 – 6.0 

Tennessee ........................ 5,324 5,379 3,254 3,345 3,140 3,232 114 113 3.5 3.4 3.0 – 3.8 

West South Central ............ 30,515 30,883 19,115 19,345 18,369 18,641 746 704 3.9 3.6 3.4 – 3.8 

Arkansas .......................... 2,333 2,343 1,353 1,363 1,304 1,314 49 48 3.6 3.5 3.1 – 4.0 

Louisiana .......................... 3,581 3,577 2,104 2,095 2,002 1,994 103 101 4.9 4.8 4.3 – 5.3 

Oklahoma ......................... 3,011 3,029 1,841 1,841 1,778 1,781 63 61 3.4 3.3 2.8 – 3.8 

Texas ................................ 21,590 21,934 13,817 14,045 13,285 13,552 532 494 3.8 3.5 3.3 – 3.8 

West ....................................... 60,924 61,513 38,405 38,955 36,816 37,430 1,589 1,525 4.1 3.9 3.8 – 4.1 

Mountain .............................. 18,998 19,341 12,193 12,512 11,717 12,056 475 456 3.9 3.6 3.4 – 3.9 

Arizona ............................. 5,598 5,713 3,423 3,551 3,261 3,385 162 167 4.7 4.7 4.2 – 5.2 

Colorado ........................... 4,471 4,545 3,081 3,149 2,983 3,062 97 87 3.2 2.8 2.3 – 3.2 

Idaho ................................. 1,335 1,368 857 882 832 856 25 26 2.9 2.9 2.5 – 3.3 

Montana ............................ 842 850 529 533 510 515 19 19 3.6 3.5 3.0 – 3.9 

Nevada ............................. 2,375 2,424 1,504 1,542 1,437 1,482 67 60 4.4 3.9 3.4 – 4.4 

New Mexico ...................... 1,631 1,640 938 955 892 908 46 46 4.9 4.9 4.3 – 5.4 

Utah .................................. 2,298 2,351 1,570 1,608 1,522 1,566 48 42 3.0 2.6 2.3 – 3.0 

Wyoming .......................... 448 450 291 292 280 282 11 11 3.9 3.6 3.1 – 4.1 

Pacific .................................. 41,926 42,171 26,213 26,443 25,099 25,374 1,114 1,069 4.3 4.0 3.9 – 4.2 

Alaska ............................... 546 545 353 348 330 326 23 21 6.5 6.1 5.5 – 6.8 

California .......................... 30,983 31,107 19,281 19,412 18,461 18,627 820 784 4.3 4.0 3.8 – 4.3 

Hawaii ............................... 1,093 1,091 675 665 658 647 17 18 2.5 2.7 2.3 – 3.1 

Oregon .............................. 3,371 3,409 2,097 2,104 2,012 2,025 85 79 4.1 3.7 3.3 – 4.2 

Washington ...................... 5,933 6,020 3,807 3,914 3,638 3,748 169 166 4.5 4.3 3.8 – 4.7 

Puerto Rico ............................ 2,666 2,642 1,078 1,077 979 987 99 89 9.2 8.3 NA

Region, division, and state Error range of rate, 

2019 1

1 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded data. 

NA = Data not available.

NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Unemployment rates are in percent and are based on

unrounded levels. Data for subnational areas reflect revised population controls and model 

re-estimation. As a result, they will not add to U.S. totals. Data for Puerto Rico are derived 

from a monthly household survey similar to the Current Population Survey.
Table 2. Employment-population ratios of persons 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state,

2018–19 annual averages

(Percent)

Employment-population ratio 1

2018 2019

United States ................................................................ 60.4 60.8 0.4 60.6 – 61.0 

Northeast ......................................................................... 60.5 61.0 .5 60.6 – 61.4 

New England ................................................................ 64.2 64.7 .5 64.0 – 65.3 

Connecticut ................................................................ 63.2 63.9 .7 62.6 – 65.2 

Maine ......................................................................... 61.0 60.5 -.5 59.1 – 62.0 

Massachusetts .......................................................... 65.2 65.8 .6 64.9 – 66.7

New Hampshire ......................................................... 66.8 67.3 .5 66.2 – 68.3

Rhode Island ............................................................. 61.8 62.0 .2 60.8 – 63.3

Vermont ..................................................................... 65.1 64.5 -.6 63.3 – 65.7

Middle Atlantic .............................................................. 59.1 59.6 .5 59.1 – 60.1

New Jersey ................................................................ 60.2 61.3 1.1 60.3 – 62.2

New York ................................................................... 58.2 58.4 .2 57.7 – 59.1

Pennsylvania ............................................................. 59.9 60.4 .5 59.6 – 61.2

Midwest ........................................................................... 62.6 62.7 .1 62.3 – 63.1

East North Central ....................................................... 61.3 61.3 .0 60.9 – 61.8

Illinois ......................................................................... 61.7 61.9 .2 61.0 – 62.8

Indiana ....................................................................... 62.7 62.4 -.3 61.3 – 63.5

Michigan .................................................................... 59.0 59.2 .2 58.3 – 60.2

Ohio ........................................................................... 59.9 60.2 .3 59.4 – 61.0

Wisconsin .................................................................. 65.6 64.8 -.8 63.7 – 65.9

West North Central ...................................................... 65.4 65.8 .4 65.2 – 66.4

Iowa ........................................................................... 67.0 68.5 1.5 67.3 – 69.8

Kansas ....................................................................... 64.3 64.6 .3 63.4 – 65.7

Minnesota .................................................................. 67.9 68.0 .1 66.9 – 69.2 

Missouri ..................................................................... 61.7 62.0 .3 61.0 – 63.0 

Nebraska ................................................................... 67.5 67.8 .3 66.8 – 68.8 

North Dakota ............................................................. 67.8 67.6 -.2 66.1 – 69.2

South Dakota ............................................................. 66.8 66.7 -.1 65.4 – 68.1

South ............................................................................... 59.2 59.6 .4 59.3 – 59.9

South Atlantic ............................................................... 59.4 59.8 .4 59.4 – 60.2

Delaware .................................................................... 60.2 60.2 .0 59.0 – 61.5

District of Columbia ................................................... 66.5 67.1 .6 65.8 – 68.4

Florida ........................................................................ 57.1 57.5 .4 56.9 – 58.2

Georgia ...................................................................... 60.3 60.2 -.1 59.3 – 61.1

Maryland .................................................................... 65.2 66.0 .8 64.9 – 67.2

North Carolina ........................................................... 58.8 59.2 .4 58.4 – 60.1

South Carolina ........................................................... 56.4 56.8 .4 55.9 – 57.7

Virginia ....................................................................... 63.5 64.3 .8 63.3 – 65.3

West Virginia ............................................................. 51.2 52.4 1.2 50.6 – 54.1

East South Central ....................................................... 56.5 57.2 .7 56.5 – 57.9

Alabama .................................................................... 55.4 56.3 .9 55.3 – 57.3

Kentucky .................................................................... 56.5 56.8 .3 55.6 – 58.0

Mississippi ................................................................. 52.8 52.8 .0 51.6 – 54.0

Tennessee ................................................................. 59.0 60.1 1.1 59.0 – 61.2

West South Central ...................................................... 60.2 60.4 .2 59.9 – 60.9

Arkansas .................................................................... 55.9 56.1 .2 55.1 – 57.1

Louisiana ................................................................... 55.9 55.8 -.1 54.7 – 56.8

Oklahoma .................................................................. 59.0 58.8 -.2 57.5 – 60.0

Texas ......................................................................... 61.5 61.8 .3 61.2 – 62.3

West ................................................................................ 60.4 60.8 .4 60.5 – 61.2

Mountain ....................................................................... 61.7 62.3 .6 61.7 – 62.9

Arizona ....................................................................... 58.2 59.2 1.0 58.2 – 60.3

Colorado .................................................................... 66.7 67.4 .7 66.2 – 68.6

Idaho .......................................................................... 62.4 62.6 .2 61.5 – 63.7

Montana ..................................................................... 60.5 60.6 .1 59.5 – 61.6

Nevada ...................................................................... 60.5 61.1 .6 60.2 – 62.1

New Mexico ............................................................... 54.7 55.4 .7 54.3 – 56.5

Utah ........................................................................... 66.2 66.6 .4 65.6 – 67.6

Wyoming .................................................................... 62.5 62.6 .1 61.3 – 64.0

Pacific ........................................................................... 59.9 60.2 .3 59.7 – 60.6

Alaska ........................................................................ 60.4 59.9 -.5 58.4 – 61.4

California .................................................................... 59.6 59.9 .3 59.4 – 60.4

Hawaii ........................................................................ 60.2 59.3 -.9 58.1 – 60.5

Oregon ....................................................................... 59.7 59.4 -.3 58.2 – 60.6

Washington ............................................................... 61.3 62.3 1.0 61.3 – 63.2 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................... 36.7 37.4 .7

Region, division, and state Error range of ratio, 

2019 2

Over-the-year 

change

 NA

1 Employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 

years of age and over.

2 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are 

based on unrounded data. 

NA = Data not available.

NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Employment-population 

ratios are based on unrounded levels. Data for subnational areas 

reflect revised population controls and model re-estimation. Data for 

Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to the 

Current Population Survey.
TEXAS

N.M.

CALIF.

MONT.

NEV.

ARIZ.

ORE.

S.D.

WYO.

COLO. KAN. MO.

N.D.

NEB.

UTAH

GA.

ILL.

MINN.

LA.

IDAHO

FLA.

PA.

WIS.

N.Y.

OKLA.

N.C.

KY.

ALA.

VA.

ARK.

WASH.

IOWA

MISS.

IND.

OHIO

S.C.

MICH.

TENN.

MA

W.VA.

VT. N.H.

MD.

DEL

N.J.

CO

HAWAII

ALASKA

Pacific

Mountain

West

North Central

East

North Central

New England

Middle

Atlantic

So

Atla

East

South Central

West

South Central

Map 1. Over-the-year change in unemployment rat2018–19 annual averages

(U.S. change = -0.2 percentage point)
TEXAS

N.M.

CALIF.

MONT.

NEV.

ARIZ.

ORE.

S.D.

WYO.

COLO. KAN. MO.

N.D.

NEB.

UTAH

GA.

ILL.

MINN.

LA.

IDAHO

FLA.

PA.

WIS.

N.Y.

OKLA.

N.C.

KY.

ALA.

VA.

ARK.

WASH.

IOWA

MISS.

IND.

OHIO

S.C.

MICH.

TENN.

MA

W.VA.

VT. N.H.

MD.

DEL

N.J.

CO

HAWAII

ALASKA

Pacific

Mountain

West

North Central

East

North Central

New England

Middle

Atlantic

So

Atla

East

South Central

West

South Central

Map 2. Unemployment rates by state, 2019 annua

(U.S. rate = 3.7 percent)
TEXAS

N.M.

CALIF.

MONT.

NEV.

ARIZ.

ORE.

S.D.

WYO.

COLO. KAN. MO.

N.D.

NEB.

UTAH

GA.

ILL.

MINN.

LA.

IDAHO

FLA.

PA.

WIS.

N.Y.

OKLA.

N.C.

KY.

ALA.

VA.

ARK.

WASH.

IOWA

MISS.

IND.

OHIO

S.C.

MICH.

TENN.

MA

W.VA.

VT. N.H.

MD.

DEL

N.J.

CO

HAWAII

ALASKA

Pacific

Mountain

West

North Central

East

North Central

New England

Middle

Atlantic

So

Atla

East

South Central

West

South Central

Map 3. Employment-population ratios by state,2019 annual averaJHV

(U.S. UDWLR = 60.8 percent)