For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, March 1, 2024 USDL-24-0397 

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

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

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2023 ANNUAL AVERAGES

In 2023, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 6 states, increased in 2 states, and 

were little changed in 42 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

reported today. Employment-population ratios increased in 10 states and were little changed in 

40 states and the District. The U.S. jobless rate was unchanged over the year at 3.6 percent, while 

the national employment-population ratio rose by 0.3 percentage point to 60.3 percent. 

Regional Unemployment 

In 2023, the West was the only census region to post a change in its annual average 

unemployment rate from 2022 (+0.2 percentage point). The Midwest, 3.4 percent, and South, 3.3 

percent, registered jobless rates lower than the U.S. rate in 2023, while the West, 4.2 percent, had 

a rate higher than the national figure. The unemployment rates in the Midwest and South were 

the lowest in their annual average series. All region, division, and state series begin in 1976. (See 

table 1.) 

The Pacific was the only census division that had an over-the-year unemployment rate change in 

2023 (+0.3 percentage point). The West North Central had the lowest jobless rate, 2.8 percent. 

The highest jobless rates among the divisions were in the Pacific, 4.5 percent, and Middle 

Atlantic, 4.0 percent. The East South Central, New England, South Atlantic, and West North 

Central divisions had rates below the national figure, while the Middle Atlantic and Pacific 

divisions had rates above it. The rates in the East South Central (3.3 percent) and South Atlantic 

(3.0 percent) set new annual average series lows.

Changes to Local Area Unemployment Statistics Data

Effective with this news release, data for regions, divisions, states, the District of Columbia, and 

modeled substate areas have been re-estimated from 2019 through 2023. The annual average data 

shown in tables 1 and 2 were affected, as were monthly seasonally adjusted and not seasonally 

adjusted data. Information on these data revisions is available at www.bls.gov/lau/launews1.htm.
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State Unemployment

Six states had unemployment rate decreases in 2023, the largest of which were in Maryland (-0.9 

percentage point) and Pennsylvania (-0.7 point). The only two states with over-the-year rate 

increases were California and New Jersey (+0.5 percentage point each). The remaining 42 states 

and the District of Columbia had annual average jobless rates in 2023 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.)

North Dakota had the lowest jobless rate among the states in 2023, 1.9 percent. Nevada had the 

highest unemployment rate, 5.1 percent. Overall, 23 states had unemployment rates lower than 

the U.S. figure of 3.6 percent, 6 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 21 

states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. Six states set new 

annual average series low unemployment rates in 2023: Maryland (2.1 percent), Mississippi (3.2 

percent), North Dakota (1.9 percent), Ohio (3.5 percent), Pennsylvania (3.4 percent), and 

Vermont (2.0 percent). (See table B and map 2.) 

Regional Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2023, three census regions had increases in their employment-population ratios—the 

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

employed. The Northeast had the largest ratio increase (+0.6 percentage point), followed by the 

Midwest (+0.4 point) and South (+0.3 point). The Midwest had the highest employmentpopulation ratio, 62.1 percent, while the South had the lowest ratio, 59.3 percent. (See table 2.)

Five census divisions had over-the-year increases in their employment-population ratios in 2023, 

the largest of which was in the Middle Atlantic (+0.8 percentage point). Three divisions had

ratios notably higher than the U.S. ratio of 60.3 percent: the West North Central, 64.8 percent; 

New England, 62.1 percent; and Mountain, 62.0 percent. Three divisions had ratios that were 

lower than the national average: the East South Central, 55.8 percent; South Atlantic, 59.5 

percent; and Pacific, 59.6 percent. 

State Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2023, the largest employment-population ratio increase among the states occurred in Michigan 

(+1.6 percentage points), followed by Vermont and Virginia (+1.3 points each). Seven other 

states also had significant increases in their ratios. The remaining 40 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.) 

The District of Columbia had the highest proportion of employed people in 2023, 68.2 percent, 

which also set a new high in its annual average series. The next highest ratios were in North 

Dakota, 67.9 percent, and Utah, 67.7 percent. Mississippi and West Virginia had the lowest 

employment-population ratios among the states, 52.3 percent and 52.8 percent, respectively. 

Overall, 21 states and the District had employment-population ratios higher than the U.S. ratio of 

60.3 percent, 16 states had lower ratios, and 13 states had ratios that were not appreciably 

different from that of the nation. (See table D and map 3.) 
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_____________ 

The State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2024 is scheduled to 

be released on Monday, March 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area 

Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2024 is scheduled to be released 

on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). 
-4- 

Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2022–23

annual averages

2022 2023

California .................................. 4.3 4.8 0.5

Maryland .................................. 3.0 2.1 -.9

Mississippi ................................ 3.8 3.2 -.6

New Jersey ............................... 3.9 4.4 .5

Ohio ......................................... 4.0 3.5 -.5

Pennsylvania ............................. 4.1 3.4 -.7

Vermont .................................... 2.3 2.0 -.3

Wyoming .................................. 3.4 2.9 -.5

Rate

State Over-the-year rate 

change 
-5- 

State Rate 

United States .................................................... 3.6

Alabama ........................................................... 2.5

California ......................................................... 4.8

District of Columbia ........................................... 4.9

Florida ............................................................. 2.9

Georgia ............................................................ 3.2

Hawaii .............................................................. 3.0

Idaho ............................................................... 3.1

Illinois .............................................................. 4.5

Iowa ................................................................. 2.9

Kansas ............................................................. 2.7

Maine ............................................................... 2.9

Maryland .......................................................... 2.1

Minnesota ......................................................... 2.8

Missouri ........................................................... 3.0

Montana ........................................................... 2.9

Nebraska .......................................................... 2.3

Nevada ............................................................. 5.1

New Hampshire ................................................. 2.2

New Jersey ...................................................... 4.4

New York ......................................................... 4.2

North Dakota .................................................... 1.9

Rhode Island .................................................... 3.0

South Carolina .................................................. 3.0

South Dakota .................................................... 2.0

Texas ............................................................... 3.9

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

Vermont ........................................................... 2.0

Virginia ............................................................ 2.9

Wisconsin ........................................................ 3.0

Wyoming ......................................................... 2.9

of the U.S., 2023 annual averages

Table B. States with unemployment rates significantly different from that
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Table C. States with statistically significant employment-population ratio changes,

2022–23 annual averages

2022 2023

Florida ...................................... 57.3 57.9 0.6

Maryland .................................. 62.8 63.7 .9

Michigan ................................... 57.9 59.5 1.6

Nevada ..................................... 58.4 59.5 1.1

New Mexico .............................. 54.2 55.1 .9

New York .................................. 57.6 58.6 1.0

Oklahoma ................................. 59.9 60.9 1.0

Pennsylvania ............................. 59.3 60.1 .8

Vermont .................................... 62.1 63.4 1.3

Virginia ..................................... 63.2 64.5 1.3

State

Ratio Over-the-year ratio 

change 
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State Ratio 

United States .................................................... 60.3

Alabama ........................................................... 55.8

Alaska .............................................................. 62.4

Arkansas .......................................................... 55.6

California ......................................................... 59.1

Colorado .......................................................... 66.2

Connecticut ...................................................... 61.8

Delaware .......................................................... 58.5

District of Columbia ........................................... 68.2

Florida ............................................................. 57.9

Hawaii .............................................................. 58.4

Illinois .............................................................. 61.4

Iowa ................................................................. 65.8

Kansas ............................................................. 64.8

Kentucky .......................................................... 54.8

Louisiana ......................................................... 56.5

Maine ............................................................... 57.5

Maryland .......................................................... 63.7

Massachusetts .................................................. 62.9

Minnesota ......................................................... 66.4

Mississippi ........................................................ 52.3

Nebraska .......................................................... 67.5

New Hampshire ................................................. 63.6

New Jersey ...................................................... 62.0

New Mexico ...................................................... 55.1

New York ......................................................... 58.6

North Carolina .................................................. 58.9

North Dakota .................................................... 67.9

South Carolina .................................................. 55.7

South Dakota .................................................... 66.8

Tennessee ........................................................ 57.9

Texas ............................................................... 61.9

Utah ................................................................. 67.7

Vermont ........................................................... 63.4

Virginia ............................................................ 64.5

Washington ...................................................... 61.7

West Virginia .................................................... 52.8

Wisconsin ........................................................ 63.8

Wyoming ......................................................... 62.1

from that of the U.S., 2023 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 people on a place-of-residence basis. The 

universe for each is the civilian noninstitutional 

population 16 years of age and older. Employed people

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 

people 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; people 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 people. The unemployment 

rate is the number of unemployed people expressed as 

a percent of the labor force. The employmentpopulation 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. 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. 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. 

 The population controls for April 2020 forward 

reflect a “blended base,” using population totals from 

the 2020 Census but demographic distributions still 

based on the 2010 Census. Typically, population 

estimates are revised back to the decennial estimates 

base. However, due to notable discontinuities between 

the final, 2010-extrapolated recontrol series and the 

new blended base series that coincide with the peak 

pandemic months of March–April 2020, BLS 

implemented a temporary wedged population series 

for the 2010s through March 2020. For more 

information on these population controls, see 

www.bls.gov/lau/important-information-onrevisions-to-data-for-model-based-areas-in-2022.htm.

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 0.8 percentage 

point. Measures of nonsampling error are not 

available.

Additional information

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech 

disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access 

telecommunications relay services.
Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state,

2022–23 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Population Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate

2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023

United States ....................... 263,973 266,942 164,287 167,116 158,291 161,037 5,996 6,080 3.6 3.6 3.6 – 3.7 

Northeast ............................... 46,231 46,299 28,810 29,082 27,667 27,977 1,143 1,106 4.0 3.8 3.6 – 4.0 

New England ....................... 12,426 12,488 8,012 8,017 7,734 7,758 278 258 3.5 3.2 3.0 – 3.5 

Connecticut ...................... 2,934 2,948 1,912 1,893 1,834 1,822 78 71 4.1 3.8 3.1 – 4.4 

Maine ................................ 1,152 1,162 681 687 662 668 19 20 2.8 2.9 2.3 – 3.5 

Massachusetts ................. 5,741 5,766 3,744 3,752 3,606 3,625 137 126 3.7 3.4 3.0 – 3.8 

New Hampshire ................ 1,160 1,167 760 760 743 743 17 17 2.3 2.2 1.8 – 2.6 

Rhode Island .................... 898 902 572 574 554 557 18 17 3.2 3.0 2.4 – 3.6 

Vermont ............................ 540 542 344 351 336 344 8 7 2.3 2.0 1.7 – 2.4 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 33,805 33,811 20,797 21,066 19,933 20,218 864 847 4.2 4.0 3.8 – 4.3 

New Jersey ....................... 7,402 7,439 4,736 4,830 4,553 4,616 184 214 3.9 4.4 3.9 – 4.9 

New York .......................... 15,937 15,893 9,596 9,718 9,179 9,307 417 411 4.3 4.2 3.9 – 4.6 

Pennsylvania .................... 10,466 10,479 6,465 6,518 6,202 6,296 263 223 4.1 3.4 3.1 – 3.8 

Midwest .................................. 54,397 54,656 34,744 35,128 33,538 33,919 1,206 1,208 3.5 3.4 3.3 – 3.6 

East North Central .............. 37,450 37,599 23,490 23,768 22,570 22,873 919 896 3.9 3.8 3.6 – 4.0 

Illinois ................................ 10,012 10,022 6,422 6,438 6,127 6,151 294 287 4.6 4.5 4.0 – 4.9 

Indiana .............................. 5,337 5,375 3,374 3,401 3,271 3,288 103 113 3.1 3.3 2.9 – 3.8 

Michigan ........................... 8,058 8,085 4,866 5,008 4,664 4,812 202 195 4.1 3.9 3.5 – 4.3 

Ohio .................................. 9,318 9,359 5,733 5,787 5,503 5,582 230 205 4.0 3.5 3.1 – 3.9 

Wisconsin ......................... 4,726 4,760 3,095 3,134 3,005 3,039 90 95 2.9 3.0 2.6 – 3.5 

West North Central ............. 16,947 17,056 11,254 11,360 10,968 11,047 286 313 2.5 2.8 2.5 – 3.0 

Iowa .................................. 2,510 2,523 1,706 1,709 1,658 1,659 48 50 2.8 2.9 2.5 – 3.4 

Kansas .............................. 2,259 2,270 1,503 1,511 1,463 1,471 40 40 2.6 2.7 2.2 – 3.1 

Minnesota ......................... 4,505 4,535 3,071 3,100 2,993 3,013 79 87 2.6 2.8 2.4 – 3.2 

Missouri ............................ 4,867 4,895 3,037 3,088 2,957 2,994 79 94 2.6 3.0 2.6 – 3.5 

Nebraska .......................... 1,515 1,527 1,050 1,055 1,028 1,031 23 24 2.2 2.3 1.9 – 2.6 

North Dakota .................... 597 602 412 417 404 409 8 8 2.0 1.9 1.6 – 2.2 

South Dakota ................... 694 704 475 480 465 471 10 10 2.0 2.0 1.6 – 2.4 

South ...................................... 100,949 102,396 61,631 62,839 59,534 60,755 2,097 2,084 3.4 3.3 3.2 – 3.4 

South Atlantic ...................... 53,676 54,469 32,710 33,409 31,670 32,398 1,040 1,012 3.2 3.0 2.9 – 3.2 

Delaware .......................... 819 832 497 507 476 486 21 20 4.3 4.0 3.4 – 4.5 

District of Columbia .......... 548 555 388 398 370 379 18 20 4.7 4.9 4.3 – 5.5 

Florida ............................... 18,084 18,437 10,692 10,989 10,371 10,669 321 320 3.0 2.9 2.6 – 3.2 

Georgia ............................. 8,484 8,610 5,222 5,306 5,058 5,136 164 170 3.1 3.2 2.8 – 3.6 

Maryland ........................... 4,870 4,892 3,155 3,185 3,060 3,117 95 68 3.0 2.1 1.7 – 2.6 

North Carolina .................. 8,434 8,574 5,156 5,232 4,966 5,051 190 181 3.7 3.5 3.1 – 3.8 

South Carolina ................. 4,188 4,275 2,393 2,453 2,316 2,380 77 73 3.2 3.0 2.5 – 3.4 

Virginia .............................. 6,816 6,863 4,427 4,555 4,305 4,424 123 131 2.8 2.9 2.5 – 3.3 

West Virginia .................... 1,432 1,431 779 786 748 755 30 31 3.9 3.9 3.4 – 4.4 

East South Central .............. 15,368 15,509 8,917 8,945 8,615 8,652 302 293 3.4 3.3 3.0 – 3.5 

Alabama ........................... 3,998 4,033 2,276 2,308 2,219 2,250 58 58 2.5 2.5 2.1 – 2.9 

Kentucky ........................... 3,528 3,546 2,030 2,026 1,948 1,942 82 84 4.0 4.2 3.5 – 4.8 

Mississippi ........................ 2,272 2,281 1,248 1,231 1,200 1,192 48 39 3.8 3.2 2.7 – 3.7 

Tennessee ........................ 5,570 5,649 3,362 3,380 3,248 3,268 114 112 3.4 3.3 2.8 – 3.8 

West South Central ............ 31,905 32,419 20,004 20,485 19,248 19,706 756 779 3.8 3.8 3.6 – 4.0 

Arkansas .......................... 2,372 2,395 1,360 1,378 1,316 1,333 44 45 3.2 3.3 2.8 – 3.7 

Louisiana .......................... 3,545 3,542 2,069 2,077 1,993 2,000 76 77 3.7 3.7 3.2 – 4.2 

Oklahoma ......................... 3,083 3,119 1,904 1,963 1,845 1,900 58 63 3.1 3.2 2.7 – 3.7 

Texas ................................ 22,906 23,362 14,672 15,067 14,094 14,473 578 595 3.9 3.9 3.7 – 4.2 

West ....................................... 62,486 62,906 39,157 39,640 37,603 37,972 1,553 1,668 4.0 4.2 4.0 – 4.4 

Mountain .............................. 20,114 20,385 12,831 13,111 12,383 12,643 448 468 3.5 3.6 3.3 – 3.8 

Arizona ............................. 5,857 5,944 3,600 3,691 3,463 3,547 137 144 3.8 3.9 3.4 – 4.4 

Colorado ........................... 4,672 4,723 3,187 3,230 3,089 3,128 98 102 3.1 3.2 2.7 – 3.7 

Idaho ................................. 1,501 1,530 945 962 918 932 27 30 2.8 3.1 2.7 – 3.5 

Montana ............................ 897 910 564 574 549 558 15 17 2.7 2.9 2.5 – 3.3 

Nevada ............................. 2,527 2,555 1,558 1,603 1,476 1,520 81 82 5.2 5.1 4.5 – 5.8 

New Mexico ...................... 1,676 1,686 947 965 909 929 39 36 4.1 3.8 3.2 – 4.3 

Utah .................................. 2,527 2,575 1,738 1,790 1,697 1,743 41 47 2.4 2.6 2.2 – 3.0 

Wyoming .......................... 457 462 293 295 283 287 10 9 3.4 2.9 2.4 – 3.4 

Pacific .................................. 42,372 42,521 26,326 26,530 25,220 25,329 1,105 1,200 4.2 4.5 4.3 – 4.7 

Alaska ............................... 546 548 354 357 339 342 15 15 4.2 4.2 3.5 – 4.9 

California .......................... 31,041 31,124 19,169 19,308 18,349 18,388 820 920 4.3 4.8 4.5 – 5.0 

Hawaii ............................... 1,124 1,124 673 676 651 656 22 20 3.3 3.0 2.5 – 3.5 

Oregon .............................. 3,458 3,467 2,160 2,162 2,075 2,082 85 80 3.9 3.7 3.2 – 4.2 

Washington ...................... 6,204 6,258 3,970 4,026 3,807 3,861 163 165 4.1 4.1 3.6 – 4.6 

Puerto Rico ............................ 2,735 2,729 1,187 1,197 1,116 1,127 71 70 6.0 5.9 NA

Region, division, and state Error range of rate, 

2023 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,

2022–23 annual averages

(Percent)

Employment-population ratio 1

2022 2023

United States ............................................................. 60.0 60.3 0.3 60.2 – 60.5

Northeast ...................................................................... 59.8 60.4 .6 60.0 – 60.9

New England ............................................................. 62.2 62.1 -.1 61.5 – 62.8

Connecticut ............................................................. 62.5 61.8 -.7 60.4 – 63.3

Maine ...................................................................... 57.4 57.5 .1 55.8 – 59.1

Massachusetts ........................................................ 62.8 62.9 .1 61.8 – 63.9

New Hampshire ....................................................... 64.1 63.6 -.5 62.4 – 64.9

Rhode Island ........................................................... 61.6 61.7 .1 60.1 – 63.3 

Vermont ................................................................... 62.1 63.4 1.3 62.1 – 64.7 

Middle Atlantic ........................................................... 59.0 59.8 .8 59.2 – 60.4 

New Jersey ............................................................. 61.5 62.0 .5 60.9 – 63.2 

New York ................................................................. 57.6 58.6 1.0 57.8 – 59.3 

Pennsylvania ........................................................... 59.3 60.1 .8 59.2 – 61.0 

Midwest ........................................................................ 61.7 62.1 .4 61.6 – 62.5 

East North Central ..................................................... 60.3 60.8 .5 60.3 – 61.4 

Illinois ...................................................................... 61.2 61.4 .2 60.4 – 62.4 

Indiana .................................................................... 61.3 61.2 -.1 59.9 – 62.4 

Michigan .................................................................. 57.9 59.5 1.6 58.4 – 60.6 

Ohio ........................................................................ 59.1 59.7 .6 58.6 – 60.7 

Wisconsin ................................................................ 63.6 63.8 .2 62.5 – 65.2 

West North Central .................................................... 64.7 64.8 .1 64.1 – 65.5 

Iowa ......................................................................... 66.1 65.8 -.3 64.3 – 67.2 

Kansas .................................................................... 64.7 64.8 .1 63.4 – 66.1 

Minnesota ................................................................ 66.4 66.4 .0 65.1 – 67.8 

Missouri ................................................................... 60.8 61.2 .4 59.9 – 62.4 

Nebraska ................................................................. 67.9 67.5 -.4 66.3 – 68.8 

North Dakota ........................................................... 67.6 67.9 .3 66.1 – 69.7 

South Dakota .......................................................... 67.0 66.8 -.2 65.2 – 68.5 

South ............................................................................ 59.0 59.3 .3 59.0 – 59.7 

South Atlantic ............................................................ 59.0 59.5 .5 59.0 – 59.9 

Delaware ................................................................. 58.1 58.5 .4 57.1 – 59.9 

District of Columbia ................................................. 67.5 68.2 .7 66.8 – 69.6 

Florida ..................................................................... 57.3 57.9 .6 57.1 – 58.6 

Georgia ................................................................... 59.6 59.6 .0 58.6 – 60.7 

Maryland ................................................................. 62.8 63.7 .9 62.3 – 65.2 

North Carolina ......................................................... 58.9 58.9 .0 57.9 – 59.9 

South Carolina ........................................................ 55.3 55.7 .4 54.5 – 56.8 

Virginia .................................................................... 63.2 64.5 1.3 63.3 – 65.6 

West Virginia ........................................................... 52.3 52.8 .5 51.2 – 54.3 

East South Central ..................................................... 56.1 55.8 -.3 55.0 – 56.6 

Alabama .................................................................. 55.5 55.8 .3 54.4 – 57.2 

Kentucky ................................................................. 55.2 54.8 -.4 53.2 – 56.3 

Mississippi ............................................................... 52.8 52.3 -.5 50.9 – 53.6

Tennessee .............................................................. 58.3 57.9 -.4 56.6 – 59.1

West South Central ................................................... 60.3 60.8 .5 60.2 – 61.3

Arkansas ................................................................. 55.5 55.6 .1 54.4 – 56.9

Louisiana ................................................................. 56.2 56.5 .3 55.3 – 57.7

Oklahoma ................................................................ 59.9 60.9 1.0 59.6 – 62.3

Texas ...................................................................... 61.5 61.9 .4 61.3 – 62.6

West ............................................................................. 60.2 60.4 .2 60.0 – 60.7

Mountain .................................................................... 61.6 62.0 .4 61.4 – 62.6 

Arizona .................................................................... 59.1 59.7 .6 58.3 – 61.0 

Colorado .................................................................. 66.1 66.2 .1 64.9 – 67.6 

Idaho ....................................................................... 61.2 60.9 -.3 59.6 – 62.2 

Montana .................................................................. 61.2 61.3 .1 60.1 – 62.5 

Nevada .................................................................... 58.4 59.5 1.1 58.1 – 60.9 

New Mexico ............................................................. 54.2 55.1 .9 54.0 – 56.2 

Utah ........................................................................ 67.1 67.7 .6 66.3 – 69.1 

Wyoming ................................................................. 61.8 62.1 .3 60.5 – 63.7 

Pacific ........................................................................ 59.5 59.6 .1 59.1 – 60.0 

Alaska ..................................................................... 62.0 62.4 .4 60.8 – 63.9 

California ................................................................. 59.1 59.1 .0 58.5 – 59.6 

Hawaii ..................................................................... 57.9 58.4 .5 57.1 – 59.7 

Oregon .................................................................... 60.0 60.0 .0 58.6 – 61.5 

Washington ............................................................. 61.4 61.7 .3 60.5 – 62.9 

Puerto Rico .................................................................. 40.8 41.3 .5

Region, division, and state Error range of ratio, 

2023 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.

MAINE

W.VA.

VT. N.H.

+0.3 point or higher

+0.1 point to +0.2 point

0.0 point to -0.1 point

-0.2 point to -0.3 point

-0.4 point or lower

MD.

DEL.

MASS.

N.J.

CONN. R.I.

D.C.

HAWAII

ALASKA

Pacific

Mountain West

North Central

East

North Central

New England

Middle

Atlantic

South

Atlantic

East

South Central

West

South Central

Map 1. Over-the-year change in unemployment rates by state,

2022-23 annual averages

(U.S. change = 0.0 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.

MAINE

W.VA.

VT. N.H.

4.0% or higher

3.5% to 3.9%

3.0% to 3.4%

2.5% to 2.9%

2.4% or lower

MD.

DEL.

MASS.

N.J.

CONN. R.I.

D.C.

HAWAII

ALASKA

Pacific

Mountain West

North Central

East

North Central

New England

Middle

Atlantic

South

Atlantic

East

South Central

West

South Central

Map 2. Unemployment rates by state, 2023 annual averages

(U.S. rate = 3.6 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.

MAINE

W.VA.

VT. N.H.

62.0% or higher

58.0% to 61.9%

57.9% or lower

MD.

DEL.

MASS.

N.J.

CONN. R.I.

D.C.

HAWAII

ALASKA

Pacific

Mountain West

North Central

East

North Central

New England

Middle

Atlantic

South

Atlantic

East

South Central

West

South Central

Map 3. Employment-population ratios by state,

2023 annual averages

(U.S. ratio = 60.3 percent)