For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, February 27, 2018 USDL-18-0297 

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

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

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2017 ANNUAL AVERAGES 

In 2017, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 32 states and were little changed or 

unchanged in 18 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

Employment-population ratios increased in 12 states, decreased in 2 states, and were little changed or 

unchanged in 36 states and the District. The U.S. jobless rate declined by 0.5 percentage point from the 

prior year to 4.4 percent, and the national employment-population ratio rose by 0.4 point to 60.1 percent. 

Regional Unemployment 

All four census regions had unemployment rate decreases from 2016: the Midwest, South, and West 

(-0.6 percentage point each) and the Northeast (-0.3 point). The Midwest had the lowest jobless rate, 

4.1 percent in 2017. No other region had a rate significantly different from that of the U.S. The West 

recorded the lowest unemployment rate in its series, 4.5 percent. (All region, division, and state series 

begin in 1976. See table 1.) 

All nine geographic divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate declines in 2017. The largest of 

these occurred in the East South Central (-0.9 percentage point). The lowest jobless rate was in the West 

North Central, 3.4 percent, followed by the New England and Mountain divisions (3.8 percent and 4.1 

percent, respectively). The highest rates were in the Middle Atlantic and Pacific (4.7 percent each). The 

remaining four divisions had rates that were not significantly different from that of the U.S. The Pacific 

recorded the lowest unemployment rate in its series, 4.7 percent. 

Changes to Local Area Unemployment Statistics Data 

Effective with this news release, the civilian labor force and unemployment data for census regions and 

divisions, the states and the District of Columbia, and the modeled substate areas were revised to 

incorporate updated inputs, new population controls, reestimation of models, and adjustment to new 

control totals. In addition, a new procedure for seasonally adjusting the data was implemented. While 

the not seasonally adjusted data were revised from 2013 forward, the seasonally adjusted data were 

revised back to 1976. Information on the new seasonal adjustment procedure is available at 

www.bls.gov/lau/ssachanges2018.htm. 
-2- 

State Unemployment 

Thirty-two states had statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2017. The largest decline 

occurred in Alabama (-1.5 percentage points), followed by Wyoming (-1.1 points) and Tennessee (-1.0 

point). The remaining 18 states and the District of Columbia had annual average jobless rates in 2017 

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.) 

Hawaii and North Dakota had the lowest unemployment rates in 2017, 2.4 percent and 2.6 percent, 

respectively. Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 7.2 percent, followed by New Mexico, 6.2 percent. The 

District of Columbia had a rate of 6.1 percent. Overall, 20 states had unemployment rates significantly 

lower than the U.S. figure of 4.4 percent, 12 states and the District had higher rates, and 18 states had 

rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. Seven states recorded the lowest 

unemployment rates in their series in 2017: Arkansas (3.7 percent), California (4.8 percent), Hawaii (2.4 

percent), Maine (3.3 percent), North Dakota (2.6 percent), Oregon (4.1 percent), and Tennessee (3.7 

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

Regional Employment-Population Ratios

In 2017, two census regions had statistically significant changes in their employment-population 

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

employed—both of which were increases. These occurred in the West (+0.6 percentage point) and South 

(+0.5 point). The Midwest had the highest ratio, 62.3 percent, while the South, at 58.8 percent, had the 

lowest. These two regions had the only ratios that were notably different from the national figure of 60.1 

percent. (See table 2.) 

Four of the 9 geographic divisions had increases in their employment-population ratios from 2016 to 

2017: the East South Central and South Atlantic (+0.7 percentage point each) and the Mountain and 

Pacific (+0.6 point each). The remaining five divisions experienced little or no change in their ratios. 

The division with the highest employment-population ratio in 2017 was the West North Central, 65.2 

percent, followed by New England, 63.2 percent. These two divisions, along with the Mountain and East 

North Central, at 61.2 percent and 61.1 percent, respectively, had employment-population ratios 

significantly above that of the U.S. The East South Central had the lowest proportion of employed 

persons, 55.9 percent. The ratios in the Middle Atlantic (59.0 percent) and South Atlantic (59.2 percent) 

also were appreciably below the national average. 

State Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2017, the largest employment-population ratio increase among the states occurred in Colorado (+1.3 

percentage points), followed by Georgia and Tennessee (+1.1 points each). Nine other states also had 

significant increases in their ratios. Two states had over-the-year decreases in their employmentpopulation ratios: Nebraska (-0.5 percentage point) and New Hampshire (-0.4 point). The remaining 36 

states and the District of Columbia had ratios 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 C.) 
-3- 

North Dakota had the highest proportion of employed persons, 69.6 percent in 2017. The next highest 

ratios were in Minnesota, 67.8 percent, and Utah, 67.2 percent. West Virginia had the lowest 

employment-population ratio among the states, 50.5 percent. (West Virginia has had the lowest 

employment-population ratio each year since the series began in 1976.) Overall, 24 states and the 

District of Columbia had employment-population ratios significantly higher than the U.S. ratio of 60.1 

percent and 16 states had ratios that were below it. Alaska had the lowest employment-population ratio 

in its series, 61.6 percent. (See table D and map 3.) 

_____________ 

The State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2018 is scheduled to be 

released on Monday, March 12, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment 

and Unemployment news release for January 2018 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 

16, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). 
-4- 

Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2016–17

annual averages

2016 2017

Alabama ....................................... 5.9 4.4 -1.5

Arizona ......................................... 5.4 4.9 -.5

California ...................................... 5.5 4.8 -.7

Colorado ....................................... 3.3 2.8 -.5

Florida ........................................... 4.8 4.2 -.6

Georgia ......................................... 5.4 4.7 -.7

Hawaii ........................................... 2.9 2.4 -.5

Idaho ............................................. 3.8 3.2 -.6

Illinois ............................................ 5.8 5.0 -.8

Indiana .......................................... 4.4 3.5 -.9

Iowa .............................................. 3.6 3.1 -.5

Kansas ......................................... 4.0 3.6 -.4

Louisiana ...................................... 6.0 5.1 -.9

Maine ............................................ 3.8 3.3 -.5

Minnesota ..................................... 3.9 3.5 -.4

Mississippi .................................... 5.8 5.1 -.7

Missouri ........................................ 4.6 3.8 -.8

Nevada ......................................... 5.7 5.0 -.7

New Mexico .................................. 6.7 6.2 -.5

North Carolina .............................. 5.1 4.6 -.5

North Dakota ................................ 3.1 2.6 -.5

Oklahoma ..................................... 4.8 4.3 -.5

Oregon ......................................... 4.8 4.1 -.7

Pennsylvania ................................ 5.4 4.9 -.5

Rhode Island ................................ 5.2 4.5 -.7

South Carolina .............................. 5.0 4.3 -.7

Tennessee ................................... 4.7 3.7 -1.0

Texas ............................................ 4.6 4.3 -.3

Washington .................................. 5.3 4.8 -.5

West Virginia ................................ 6.1 5.2 -.9

Wisconsin .................................... 4.0 3.3 -.7

Wyoming ...................................... 5.3 4.2 -1.1

Rate

State Over-the-year rate 

change 
-5- 

State Rate 

United States ........................................................... 4.4

Alaska ...................................................................... 7.2

Arizona .................................................................... 4.9

Arkansas ................................................................. 3.7

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

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

District of Columbia ................................................. 6.1

Hawaii ...................................................................... 2.4

Idaho ........................................................................ 3.2

Illinois ....................................................................... 5.0

Indiana ..................................................................... 3.5

Iowa ......................................................................... 3.1

Kansas .................................................................... 3.6

Louisiana ................................................................. 5.1

Maine ....................................................................... 3.3

Massachusetts ........................................................ 3.7

Minnesota ................................................................ 3.5

Mississippi ............................................................... 5.1

Missouri ................................................................... 3.8

Nebraska ................................................................. 2.9

Nevada .................................................................... 5.0

New Hampshire ....................................................... 2.7

New Mexico ............................................................. 6.2

New York ................................................................. 4.7

North Dakota ........................................................... 2.6

Ohio ......................................................................... 5.0

Pennsylvania ........................................................... 4.9

South Dakota ........................................................... 3.3

Tennessee .............................................................. 3.7

Utah ......................................................................... 3.2

Vermont ................................................................... 3.0

Virginia ..................................................................... 3.8

West Virginia ........................................................... 5.2

Wisconsin ............................................................... 3.3

of the U.S., 2017 annual averages

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

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

2016–17 annual averages

2016 2017

Alabama ....................................... 53.7 54.1 0.4

Arizona ......................................... 57.0 57.7 .7

California ...................................... 58.8 59.4 .6

Colorado ....................................... 64.9 66.2 1.3

Florida ........................................... 56.3 57.1 .8

Georgia ......................................... 59.1 60.2 1.1

Kentucky ....................................... 55.2 56.2 1.0

Maryland ....................................... 64.2 64.8 .6

Nebraska ...................................... 67.2 66.7 -.5

New Hampshire ............................ 66.5 66.1 -.4

Oregon ......................................... 59.6 60.6 1.0

Tennessee ................................... 57.3 58.4 1.1

Utah .............................................. 66.5 67.2 .7

Washington .................................. 60.2 60.9 .7

State

Ratio Over-the-year ratio 

change 
-7- 

State Ratio 

United States ........................................................... 60.1

Alabama .................................................................. 54.1

Alaska ...................................................................... 61.6

Arizona .................................................................... 57.7

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

California ................................................................. 59.4

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

Connecticut ............................................................. 63.3

District of Columbia ................................................. 66.1

Florida ...................................................................... 57.1

Idaho ........................................................................ 62.0

Illinois ....................................................................... 61.3

Indiana ..................................................................... 61.8

Iowa ......................................................................... 66.2

Kansas .................................................................... 64.2

Kentucky .................................................................. 56.2

Louisiana ................................................................. 55.7

Maine ....................................................................... 61.5

Maryland .................................................................. 64.8

Massachusetts ........................................................ 63.1

Michigan .................................................................. 58.6

Minnesota ................................................................ 67.8

Mississippi ............................................................... 53.1

Missouri ................................................................... 61.4

Nebraska ................................................................. 66.7

New Hampshire ....................................................... 66.1

New Mexico ............................................................. 53.9

New York ................................................................. 58.0

North Carolina ......................................................... 58.7

North Dakota ........................................................... 69.6

Oklahoma ................................................................ 58.6

Rhode Island ........................................................... 61.5

South Carolina ......................................................... 56.1

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

Tennessee .............................................................. 58.4

Texas ....................................................................... 61.0

Utah ......................................................................... 67.2

Vermont ................................................................... 64.9

Virginia ..................................................................... 62.8

West Virginia ........................................................... 50.5

Wisconsin ............................................................... 66.4

Wyoming ................................................................. 62.7

from that of the U.S., 2017 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 0.6 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,

2016–17 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Population Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate

2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017

United States ....................... 253,538 255,079 159,187 160,320 151,436 153,337 7,751 6,982 4.9 4.4 4.3 – 4.4 

Northeast ............................... 45,246 45,414 28,505 28,573 27,138 27,289 1,367 1,284 4.8 4.5 4.3 – 4.7 

New England ....................... 11,984 12,053 7,853 7,922 7,527 7,618 326 303 4.1 3.8 3.6 – 4.1 

Connecticut ...................... 2,883 2,890 1,905 1,919 1,807 1,829 98 90 5.1 4.7 4.1 – 5.3 

Maine ................................ 1,094 1,101 692 700 666 677 26 23 3.8 3.3 2.8 – 3.8 

Massachusetts ................. 5,543 5,584 3,611 3,657 3,471 3,521 140 136 3.9 3.7 3.3 – 4.1 

New Hampshire ................ 1,091 1,100 746 747 725 727 21 20 2.9 2.7 2.3 – 3.0 

Rhode Island .................... 859 862 554 555 525 530 29 25 5.2 4.5 3.8 – 5.1 

Vermont ............................ 514 516 345 345 333 334 11 10 3.2 3.0 2.6 – 3.4 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 33,262 33,362 20,652 20,651 19,611 19,671 1,041 980 5.0 4.7 4.5 – 5.0 

New Jersey ....................... 7,123 7,159 4,531 4,519 4,306 4,310 225 209 5.0 4.6 4.2 – 5.1 

New York .......................... 15,904 15,941 9,669 9,705 9,200 9,249 468 455 4.8 4.7 4.4 – 5.0 

Pennsylvania .................... 10,235 10,261 6,453 6,427 6,105 6,112 348 316 5.4 4.9 4.5 – 5.3 

Midwest .................................. 53,240 53,492 34,760 34,777 33,142 33,337 1,617 1,440 4.7 4.1 4.0 – 4.3 

East North Central .............. 36,823 36,967 23,587 23,629 22,406 22,571 1,182 1,058 5.0 4.5 4.3 – 4.7 

Illinois ................................ 10,060 10,060 6,550 6,493 6,170 6,171 380 322 5.8 5.0 4.6 – 5.3 

Indiana .............................. 5,147 5,181 3,327 3,320 3,180 3,203 147 117 4.4 3.5 3.1 – 4.0 

Michigan ........................... 7,903 7,944 4,840 4,884 4,599 4,657 241 227 5.0 4.6 4.2 – 5.1 

Ohio .................................. 9,147 9,190 5,739 5,780 5,451 5,491 288 289 5.0 5.0 4.6 – 5.4 

Wisconsin ......................... 4,566 4,592 3,131 3,152 3,005 3,048 125 104 4.0 3.3 2.9 – 3.7 

West North Central ............. 16,417 16,525 11,172 11,148 10,736 10,766 436 382 3.9 3.4 3.2 – 3.6 

Iowa .................................. 2,441 2,455 1,696 1,679 1,635 1,626 61 53 3.6 3.1 2.7 – 3.6 

Kansas .............................. 2,211 2,219 1,485 1,479 1,425 1,425 60 54 4.0 3.6 3.2 – 4.1 

Minnesota ......................... 4,321 4,365 3,036 3,064 2,919 2,958 117 106 3.9 3.5 3.0 – 3.9 

Missouri ............................ 4,756 4,781 3,080 3,051 2,939 2,936 140 115 4.6 3.8 3.3 – 4.2 

Nebraska .......................... 1,454 1,466 1,009 1,007 978 977 31 30 3.1 2.9 2.6 – 3.3 

North Dakota .................... 581 580 414 414 402 404 13 11 3.1 2.6 2.3 – 2.9 

South Dakota ................... 653 659 452 455 438 440 14 15 3.0 3.3 2.8 – 3.8 

South ...................................... 94,960 96,155 58,207 59,139 55,364 56,581 2,843 2,558 4.9 4.3 4.2 – 4.4 

South Atlantic ...................... 50,409 51,104 30,993 31,600 29,487 30,236 1,505 1,364 4.9 4.3 4.1 – 4.5 

Delaware .......................... 757 766 474 477 452 455 21 22 4.5 4.6 4.0 – 5.2 

District of Columbia .......... 563 570 395 401 371 377 24 24 6.1 6.1 5.5 – 6.6 

Florida ............................... 16,646 16,951 9,846 10,100 9,373 9,681 473 419 4.8 4.2 3.9 – 4.5 

Georgia ............................. 7,893 8,007 4,927 5,061 4,663 4,822 264 240 5.4 4.7 4.3 – 5.2 

Maryland ........................... 4,735 4,764 3,179 3,219 3,038 3,086 141 133 4.4 4.1 3.7 – 4.6 

North Carolina .................. 7,910 8,030 4,855 4,942 4,608 4,717 247 225 5.1 4.6 4.1 – 5.0 

South Carolina ................. 3,886 3,948 2,294 2,313 2,180 2,214 114 99 5.0 4.3 3.8 – 4.8 

Virginia .............................. 6,548 6,606 4,243 4,308 4,069 4,146 174 162 4.1 3.8 3.4 – 4.2 

West Virginia .................... 1,471 1,462 782 779 734 738 48 41 6.1 5.2 4.7 – 5.8 

East South Central .............. 14,767 14,873 8,599 8,700 8,146 8,320 453 379 5.3 4.4 4.1 – 4.6 

Alabama ........................... 3,812 3,830 2,173 2,168 2,046 2,073 128 95 5.9 4.4 3.9 – 4.9 

Kentucky ........................... 3,457 3,476 2,012 2,052 1,909 1,952 103 100 5.1 4.9 4.3 – 5.5 

Mississippi ........................ 2,283 2,289 1,279 1,280 1,204 1,215 74 65 5.8 5.1 4.5 – 5.6 

Tennessee ........................ 5,215 5,278 3,135 3,199 2,987 3,080 148 119 4.7 3.7 3.3 – 4.1 

West South Central ............ 29,783 30,179 18,615 18,839 17,730 18,025 885 815 4.8 4.3 4.1 – 4.5 

Arkansas .......................... 2,310 2,325 1,343 1,354 1,290 1,304 53 50 3.9 3.7 3.2 – 4.1 

Louisiana .......................... 3,590 3,595 2,126 2,112 1,997 2,004 129 108 6.0 5.1 4.6 – 5.6 

Oklahoma ......................... 2,985 2,997 1,829 1,834 1,741 1,756 88 79 4.8 4.3 3.8 – 4.8 

Texas ................................ 20,898 21,261 13,317 13,538 12,702 12,961 615 578 4.6 4.3 4.0 – 4.5 

West ....................................... 59,674 60,443 37,450 38,100 35,539 36,387 1,911 1,712 5.1 4.5 4.3 – 4.6 

Mountain .............................. 18,320 18,653 11,625 11,911 11,093 11,423 531 487 4.6 4.1 3.9 – 4.3 

Arizona ............................. 5,357 5,462 3,226 3,313 3,053 3,151 173 161 5.4 4.9 4.4 – 5.4 

Colorado ........................... 4,315 4,392 2,893 2,992 2,799 2,907 94 85 3.3 2.8 2.4 – 3.2 

Idaho ................................. 1,271 1,302 813 833 782 807 31 26 3.8 3.2 2.8 – 3.6 

Montana ............................ 821 832 522 525 500 504 22 21 4.1 4.0 3.6 – 4.5 

Nevada ............................. 2,298 2,349 1,430 1,463 1,348 1,389 82 74 5.7 5.0 4.4 – 5.6 

New Mexico ...................... 1,612 1,620 929 930 867 872 62 57 6.7 6.2 5.6 – 6.7 

Utah .................................. 2,195 2,248 1,511 1,561 1,459 1,510 52 51 3.4 3.2 2.9 – 3.6 

Wyoming .......................... 451 448 301 293 285 281 16 12 5.3 4.2 3.7 – 4.7 

Pacific .................................. 41,354 41,790 25,826 26,189 24,446 24,964 1,379 1,225 5.3 4.7 4.5 – 4.9 

Alaska ............................... 546 547 363 363 338 337 25 26 6.9 7.2 6.5 – 7.9 

California .......................... 30,720 30,990 19,094 19,312 18,049 18,393 1,045 919 5.5 4.8 4.5 – 5.0 

Hawaii ............................... 1,094 1,096 684 685 664 669 20 16 2.9 2.4 2.0 – 2.7 

Oregon .............................. 3,274 3,329 2,049 2,104 1,951 2,017 98 87 4.8 4.1 3.6 – 4.6 

Washington ...................... 5,719 5,829 3,635 3,725 3,444 3,547 191 177 5.3 4.8 4.3 – 5.2 

Puerto Rico ............................ 2,786 2,751 1,118 1,103 986 983 132 119 11.8 10.8 NA

Region, division, and state Error range of rate, 

2017 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,

2016–17 annual averages

(Percent)

Employment-population ratio 1

2016 2017

United States ................................................................ 59.7 60.1 0.4 59.9 – 60.3 

Northeast ......................................................................... 60.0 60.1 .1 59.7 – 60.5 

New England ................................................................ 62.8 63.2 .4 62.6 – 63.8 

Connecticut ................................................................ 62.7 63.3 .6 62.0 – 64.5 

Maine ......................................................................... 60.9 61.5 .6 60.1 – 62.9 

Massachusetts .......................................................... 62.6 63.1 .5 62.2 – 63.9 

New Hampshire ......................................................... 66.5 66.1 -.4 65.0 – 67.1 

Rhode Island ............................................................. 61.1 61.5 .4 60.2 – 62.7 

Vermont ..................................................................... 64.8 64.9 .1 63.7 – 66.0 

Middle Atlantic .............................................................. 59.0 59.0 .0 58.5 – 59.5 

New Jersey ................................................................ 60.4 60.2 -.2 59.3 – 61.1 

New York ................................................................... 57.8 58.0 .2 57.3 – 58.7 

Pennsylvania ............................................................. 59.7 59.6 -.1 58.8 – 60.3 

Midwest ........................................................................... 62.3 62.3 .0 61.9 – 62.7 

East North Central ....................................................... 60.8 61.1 .3 60.6 – 61.5 

Illinois ......................................................................... 61.3 61.3 .0 60.5 – 62.2 

Indiana ....................................................................... 61.8 61.8 .0 60.8 – 62.9 

Michigan .................................................................... 58.2 58.6 .4 57.7 – 59.5 

Ohio ........................................................................... 59.6 59.8 .2 58.9 – 60.6 

Wisconsin .................................................................. 65.8 66.4 .6 65.3 – 67.4 

West North Central ...................................................... 65.4 65.2 -.2 64.5 – 65.8 

Iowa ........................................................................... 67.0 66.2 -.8 65.0 – 67.5 

Kansas ....................................................................... 64.5 64.2 -.3 63.1 – 65.4 

Minnesota .................................................................. 67.6 67.8 .2 66.6 – 68.9 

Missouri ..................................................................... 61.8 61.4 -.4 60.3 – 62.5 

Nebraska ................................................................... 67.2 66.7 -.5 65.6 – 67.7 

North Dakota ............................................................. 69.1 69.6 .5 68.2 – 71.0 

South Dakota ............................................................. 67.1 66.7 -.4 65.4 – 68.0 

South ............................................................................... 58.3 58.8 .5 58.6 – 59.1 

South Atlantic ............................................................... 58.5 59.2 .7 58.8 – 59.6 

Delaware .................................................................... 59.8 59.4 -.4 58.2 – 60.7 

District of Columbia ................................................... 65.8 66.1 .3 65.0 – 67.3 

Florida ........................................................................ 56.3 57.1 .8 56.5 – 57.7 

Georgia ...................................................................... 59.1 60.2 1.1 59.3 – 61.1 

Maryland .................................................................... 64.2 64.8 .6 63.7 – 65.8 

North Carolina ........................................................... 58.3 58.7 .4 57.9 – 59.5 

South Carolina ........................................................... 56.1 56.1 .0 55.2 – 57.0 

Virginia ....................................................................... 62.1 62.8 .7 61.8 – 63.7 

West Virginia ............................................................. 49.9 50.5 .6 48.9 – 52.1 

East South Central ....................................................... 55.2 55.9 .7 55.3 – 56.6 

Alabama .................................................................... 53.7 54.1 .4 53.1 – 55.1 

Kentucky .................................................................... 55.2 56.2 1.0 55.0 – 57.3 

Mississippi ................................................................. 52.8 53.1 .3 51.9 – 54.3 

Tennessee ................................................................. 57.3 58.4 1.1 57.3 – 59.4 

West South Central ...................................................... 59.5 59.7 .2 59.2 – 60.2 

Arkansas .................................................................... 55.8 56.1 .3 55.1 – 57.1 

Louisiana ................................................................... 55.6 55.7 .1 54.7 – 56.8 

Oklahoma .................................................................. 58.3 58.6 .3 57.3 – 59.8 

Texas ......................................................................... 60.8 61.0 .2 60.4 – 61.5 

West ................................................................................ 59.6 60.2 .6 59.9 – 60.5 

Mountain ....................................................................... 60.6 61.2 .6 60.7 – 61.8 

Arizona ....................................................................... 57.0 57.7 .7 56.6 – 58.8 

Colorado .................................................................... 64.9 66.2 1.3 65.0 – 67.4 

Idaho .......................................................................... 61.6 62.0 .4 60.9 – 63.1 

Montana ..................................................................... 60.9 60.6 -.3 59.6 – 61.7 

Nevada ...................................................................... 58.7 59.1 .4 58.2 – 60.1 

New Mexico ............................................................... 53.7 53.9 .2 52.7 – 55.0 

Utah ........................................................................... 66.5 67.2 .7 66.2 – 68.2 

Wyoming .................................................................... 63.2 62.7 -.5 61.4 – 64.1 

Pacific ........................................................................... 59.1 59.7 .6 59.3 – 60.2 

Alaska ........................................................................ 61.8 61.6 -.2 60.2 – 63.1 

California .................................................................... 58.8 59.4 .6 58.9 – 59.8 

Hawaii ........................................................................ 60.7 61.1 .4 60.0 – 62.2 

Oregon ....................................................................... 59.6 60.6 1.0 59.4 – 61.8 

Washington ............................................................... 60.2 60.9 .7 59.9 – 61.8 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................... 35.4 35.7 .3 

Region, division, and state Error range of ratio, 

2017 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 ra2017 annual averages

(U.S. change = -0.5 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, 2017 annua

(U.S. rate = 4.4 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,2017 annual averaJHV

(U.S. UDWLR = 60.1 percent)