For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Thursday, February 28, 2019 USDL-19-0327 

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

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

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2018 ANNUAL AVERAGES

In 2018, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 25 states, increased in 1 state, and 

were little changed or unchanged in 24 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of 

Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios increased in 9 states, decreased in 

1 state, and were little changed or unchanged in 40 states and the District. The U.S. jobless rate 

declined by 0.5 percentage point from the prior year to 3.9 percent, and the national 

employment-population ratio rose by 0.3 point to 60.4 percent. 

Regional Unemployment 

All four census regions had unemployment rate decreases from 2017: the Northeast and South 

(-0.5 percentage point each), Midwest (-0.4 point), and West (-0.3 point). The Midwest had the 

lowest jobless rate, 3.7 percent in 2018, while the West had the highest rate, 4.2 percent. No 

other region had a rate significantly different from that of the United States. In 2018, the 

unemployment rates in the South (3.8 percent) and West (4.2 percent) were the lowest in their 

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

Eight of the 9 geographic divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate changes in 2018, all of 

which were decreases. The largest of these declines occurred in the South Atlantic (-0.6 

percentage point). The lowest jobless rate was in the West North Central, 3.0 percent, followed

by the New England and South Atlantic divisions, 3.5 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. The 

highest rates were in the Middle Atlantic and Pacific, 4.2 percent each. The remaining four 

divisions had rates that were not significantly different from that of the United States. Three

divisions recorded new series-low unemployment rates in 2018: the East South Central (4.0 

percent), Pacific (4.2 percent), and West South Central (3.9 percent). 

State Unemployment

Twenty-five states had statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2018, the largest 

of which occurred in New Mexico (-1.0 percentage point). Colorado had the only over-the-year 

rate increase (+0.6 percentage point). The remaining 24 states and the District of Columbia had 

annual average jobless rates in 2018 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- 

Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in 2018, 2.4 percent, followed by Iowa and New 

Hampshire, 2.5 percent each. Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.6 percent. Overall, 20 states 

had unemployment rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 3.9 percent, 12 states and the 

District of Columbia had higher rates, and 18 states had rates that were not substantially different 

from that of the nation. Fourteen states newly recorded the lowest annual average unemployment 

rates in their respective series in 2018: Alabama (3.9 percent), California (4.2 percent), Idaho 

(2.8 percent), Iowa (2.5 percent), Mississippi (4.8 percent), Missouri (3.2 percent), New York 

(4.1 percent), North Dakota (2.6 percent), South Carolina (3.4 percent), Tennessee (3.5 percent), 

Texas (3.9 percent), Vermont (2.7 percent), Washington (4.5 percent), and Wisconsin (3.0 

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

Regional Employment-Population Ratios

In 2018, three census regions had statistically significant changes in their employmentpopulation 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), West (+0.4 point), and South (+0.3 point). The Midwest had the highest 

ratio, 62.5 percent, while the South, at 59.2 percent, had the lowest. These two regions had the 

only ratios that were notably different from the national figure of 60.4 percent. (See table 2.) 

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

2017 to 2018. The largest of these increases was in New England (+1.0 percentage point), 

followed by the Mountain (+0.5 point) and Pacific and West South Central (+0.4 point each). 

The remaining five divisions had little or no change in their ratios over the year. The division 

with the highest employment-population ratio in 2018 was the West North Central, 65.3 percent, 

followed by New England, 64.4 percent. These two divisions, along with the Mountain and East 

North Central, at 61.7 percent and 61.2 percent, respectively, had employment-population ratios 

significantly above that of the United States. The East South Central had the lowest proportion of 

employed persons, 56.4 percent. This division, along with the Middle Atlantic and South 

Atlantic, at 59.2 percent and 59.3 percent, respectively, had ratios appreciably below the national 

average of 60.4 percent. 

State Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2018, the largest employment-population ratio increase among the states occurred in 

Massachusetts (+1.6 percentage points). Eight other states also had significant increases in their 

ratios. North Dakota was the only state with an over-the-year decrease in its employmentpopulation ratio (-1.2 percentage points). 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.)

Minnesota had the highest proportion of employed persons in 2018, 67.8 percent, followed by 

North Dakota and Nebraska, 67.7 percent and 67.3 percent, respectively. West Virginia had the 

lowest employment-population ratio among the states, 51.0 percent. (West Virginia has had the 

lowest ratio each year since the series began in 1976.) Overall, 22 states and the District of 

Columbia had employment-population ratios significantly higher than the U.S. ratio of 60.4 
-3- 

percent and 17 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. Alaska and Wyoming each had 

the lowest employment-population ratios in their series (60.9 percent and 62.1 percent, 

respectively). (See table D and map 3.) 

_____________ 

The State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2019 is scheduled to 

be released on Monday, March 11, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area 

Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2019 is scheduled to be released 

on Friday, March 15, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
-4- 

Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2017–18

annual averages

2017 2018

Alabama .................................. 4.4 3.9 -0.5

California ................................. 4.8 4.2 -.6

Colorado .................................. 2.7 3.3 .6

Connecticut ............................. 4.7 4.1 -.6

Delaware ................................. 4.5 3.8 -.7

Florida ..................................... 4.2 3.6 -.6

Georgia ................................... 4.7 3.9 -.8

Idaho ....................................... 3.2 2.8 -.4

Illinois ...................................... 4.9 4.3 -.6

Iowa ........................................ 3.1 2.5 -.6

Kentucky ................................. 4.9 4.3 -.6

Massachusetts ........................ 3.8 3.3 -.5

Michigan .................................. 4.6 4.1 -.5

Minnesota ................................ 3.4 2.9 -.5

Missouri .................................. 3.8 3.2 -.6

Nevada .................................... 5.1 4.6 -.5

New Jersey .............................. 4.6 4.1 -.5

New Mexico ............................. 5.9 4.9 -1.0

New York ................................. 4.7 4.1 -.6

North Carolina .......................... 4.5 3.9 -.6

Oklahoma ................................ 4.2 3.4 -.8

Pennsylvania ............................ 4.9 4.3 -.6

South Carolina ......................... 4.3 3.4 -.9

Texas ...................................... 4.3 3.9 -.4

Vermont .................................. 3.0 2.7 -.3

Virginia .................................... 3.7 3.0 -.7

Rate

State Over-the-year rate 

change 
-5- 

State Rate 

United States .................................................. 3.9

Alaska ............................................................ 6.6

Arizona ........................................................... 4.8

California ......................................................... 4.2

Colorado ......................................................... 3.3

District of Columbia .......................................... 5.6

Florida ............................................................ 3.6

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

Idaho .............................................................. 2.8

Illinois ............................................................. 4.3

Indiana ............................................................ 3.4

Iowa ................................................................ 2.5

Kansas ........................................................... 3.4

Louisiana ........................................................ 4.9

Massachusetts ................................................ 3.3

Minnesota ....................................................... 2.9

Mississippi ...................................................... 4.8

Missouri .......................................................... 3.2

Nebraska ........................................................ 2.8

Nevada ............................................................ 4.6

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

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

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

Ohio ............................................................... 4.6

Oklahoma ....................................................... 3.4

Pennsylvania ................................................... 4.3

South Carolina ................................................. 3.4

South Dakota .................................................. 3.0

Utah ............................................................... 3.1

Vermont .......................................................... 2.7

Virginia ........................................................... 3.0

Washington ..................................................... 4.5

West Virginia ................................................... 5.3

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

of the U.S., 2018 annual averages

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

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

2017–18 annual averages

2017 2018

Alabama .................................. 54.3 54.9 0.6

Arizona .................................... 57.6 58.4 .8

California ................................. 59.2 59.8 .6

Colorado .................................. 66.2 66.9 .7

Massachusetts ........................ 63.7 65.3 1.6

Nevada .................................... 59.5 60.1 .6

New Mexico ............................. 54.2 54.7 .5

New York ................................. 58.0 58.5 .5

North Dakota ............................ 68.9 67.7 -1.2

Texas ...................................... 61.1 61.5 .4

State

Ratio Over-the-year ratio 

change 
-7- 

State Ratio 

United States .................................................. 60.4

Alabama ......................................................... 54.9

Arizona ........................................................... 58.4

Arkansas ........................................................ 55.7

California ......................................................... 59.8

Colorado ......................................................... 66.9

Connecticut ..................................................... 63.4

District of Columbia .......................................... 66.5

Florida ............................................................ 57.3

Idaho .............................................................. 62.3

Illinois ............................................................. 61.7

Indiana ............................................................ 62.7

Iowa ................................................................ 66.7

Kansas ........................................................... 64.5

Kentucky ........................................................ 56.5

Louisiana ........................................................ 55.9

Maryland ......................................................... 64.6

Massachusetts ................................................ 65.3

Michigan ......................................................... 58.8

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

Mississippi ...................................................... 53.0

Missouri .......................................................... 61.6

Nebraska ........................................................ 67.3

New Hampshire ............................................... 66.6

New Mexico .................................................... 54.7

New York ........................................................ 58.5

North Carolina .................................................. 58.8

North Dakota ................................................... 67.7

Ohio ............................................................... 59.5

Oklahoma ....................................................... 59.1

Rhode Island ................................................... 61.9

South Carolina ................................................. 56.0

South Dakota .................................................. 66.6

Tennessee ...................................................... 58.8

Texas ............................................................. 61.5

Utah ............................................................... 66.1

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

Virginia ........................................................... 63.2

West Virginia ................................................... 51.0

Wisconsin ....................................................... 65.9

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

from that of the U.S., 2018 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,

2017–18 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Population Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate

2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018

United States ....................... 255,079 257,791 160,320 162,075 153,337 155,761 6,982 6,314 4.4 3.9 3.8 – 4.0 

Northeast ............................... 45,074 45,168 28,385 28,495 27,110 27,362 1,275 1,133 4.5 4.0 3.8 – 4.1 

New England ....................... 12,045 12,110 7,946 8,073 7,638 7,793 307 280 3.9 3.5 3.2 – 3.7 

Connecticut ...................... 2,878 2,883 1,897 1,905 1,808 1,827 89 78 4.7 4.1 3.5 – 4.7 

Maine ................................ 1,099 1,104 698 699 675 675 24 24 3.4 3.4 2.8 – 3.9 

Massachusetts ................. 5,586 5,630 3,696 3,805 3,557 3,678 139 127 3.8 3.3 3.0 – 3.7 

New Hampshire ................ 1,105 1,114 754 762 734 743 20 19 2.7 2.5 2.2 – 2.9 

Rhode Island .................... 859 861 554 556 529 533 24 23 4.4 4.1 3.5 – 4.7 

Vermont ............................ 516 519 346 346 336 337 10 9 3.0 2.7 2.3 – 3.0 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 33,030 33,058 20,440 20,422 19,472 19,569 968 853 4.7 4.2 4.0 – 4.4 

New Jersey ....................... 7,058 7,082 4,454 4,423 4,248 4,240 206 183 4.6 4.1 3.7 – 4.6 

New York .......................... 15,724 15,705 9,561 9,575 9,114 9,181 448 394 4.7 4.1 3.8 – 4.4 

Pennsylvania .................... 10,248 10,271 6,425 6,424 6,111 6,149 314 276 4.9 4.3 3.9 – 4.7 

Midwest .................................. 53,468 53,674 34,777 34,817 33,344 33,530 1,433 1,287 4.1 3.7 3.6 – 3.8 

East North Central .............. 36,961 37,072 23,623 23,642 22,570 22,687 1,053 955 4.5 4.0 3.8 – 4.2 

Illinois ................................ 10,049 10,035 6,490 6,470 6,171 6,191 319 278 4.9 4.3 3.9 – 4.7 

Indiana .............................. 5,176 5,208 3,337 3,382 3,218 3,266 119 116 3.6 3.4 3.0 – 3.9 

Michigan ........................... 7,954 7,986 4,886 4,902 4,661 4,699 225 203 4.6 4.1 3.7 – 4.6 

Ohio .................................. 9,193 9,229 5,770 5,755 5,483 5,492 287 263 5.0 4.6 4.2 – 5.0 

Wisconsin ......................... 4,589 4,615 3,140 3,133 3,037 3,039 103 94 3.3 3.0 2.6 – 3.4 

West North Central ............. 16,507 16,602 11,154 11,176 10,774 10,843 380 332 3.4 3.0 2.8 – 3.2 

Iowa .................................. 2,453 2,465 1,678 1,687 1,626 1,644 52 43 3.1 2.5 2.1 – 2.9 

Kansas .............................. 2,217 2,222 1,479 1,482 1,425 1,432 54 50 3.7 3.4 2.9 – 3.8 

Minnesota ......................... 4,357 4,395 3,057 3,070 2,953 2,981 104 89 3.4 2.9 2.5 – 3.3 

Missouri ............................ 4,776 4,796 3,061 3,052 2,946 2,955 115 98 3.8 3.2 2.8 – 3.6 

Nebraska .......................... 1,463 1,474 1,012 1,020 982 992 29 29 2.9 2.8 2.4 – 3.2 

North Dakota .................... 579 582 410 404 399 394 11 11 2.7 2.6 2.3 – 3.0 

South Dakota ................... 662 669 456 459 442 446 15 14 3.2 3.0 2.6 – 3.5 

South ...................................... 96,100 97,203 59,137 59,772 56,571 57,497 2,566 2,275 4.3 3.8 3.7 – 3.9 

South Atlantic ...................... 51,037 51,681 31,557 31,846 30,196 30,670 1,362 1,176 4.3 3.7 3.5 – 3.9 

Delaware .......................... 762 772 477 482 455 464 21 18 4.5 3.8 3.2 – 4.3 

District of Columbia .......... 570 575 401 405 377 382 24 22 6.1 5.6 5.0 – 6.1 

Florida ............................... 16,940 17,233 10,093 10,235 9,669 9,870 424 365 4.2 3.6 3.3 – 3.9 

Georgia ............................. 7,995 8,099 5,059 5,108 4,822 4,906 237 201 4.7 3.9 3.5 – 4.3 

Maryland ........................... 4,736 4,755 3,193 3,197 3,058 3,072 136 125 4.3 3.9 3.5 – 4.4 

North Carolina .................. 8,029 8,141 4,938 4,982 4,717 4,787 221 195 4.5 3.9 3.5 – 4.3 

South Carolina ................. 3,946 4,004 2,306 2,323 2,207 2,244 99 80 4.3 3.4 3.0 – 3.9 

Virginia .............................. 6,595 6,645 4,310 4,331 4,150 4,203 159 129 3.7 3.0 2.6 – 3.3 

West Virginia .................... 1,464 1,456 780 783 739 742 41 41 5.2 5.3 4.7 – 5.8 

East South Central .............. 14,869 14,958 8,703 8,781 8,320 8,431 382 350 4.4 4.0 3.7 – 4.2 

Alabama ........................... 3,833 3,847 2,178 2,199 2,082 2,112 97 86 4.4 3.9 3.5 – 4.4 

Kentucky ........................... 3,475 3,490 2,054 2,062 1,953 1,972 101 89 4.9 4.3 3.8 – 4.9 

Mississippi ........................ 2,290 2,293 1,281 1,276 1,215 1,215 65 61 5.1 4.8 4.2 – 5.3 

Tennessee ........................ 5,270 5,329 3,190 3,245 3,070 3,132 120 113 3.8 3.5 3.1 – 3.9 

West South Central ............ 30,195 30,563 18,877 19,145 18,055 18,396 822 749 4.4 3.9 3.7 – 4.1 

Arkansas .......................... 2,324 2,336 1,348 1,351 1,298 1,301 50 50 3.7 3.7 3.3 – 4.1 

Louisiana .......................... 3,584 3,582 2,104 2,103 1,996 2,001 108 103 5.1 4.9 4.4 – 5.4 

Oklahoma ......................... 3,000 3,011 1,836 1,842 1,758 1,779 78 63 4.2 3.4 2.9 – 3.9 

Texas ................................ 21,287 21,635 13,589 13,848 13,003 13,314 586 534 4.3 3.9 3.6 – 4.1 

West ....................................... 60,358 61,046 37,975 38,555 36,269 36,954 1,706 1,601 4.5 4.2 4.0 – 4.3 

Mountain .............................. 18,679 19,028 11,916 12,224 11,433 11,736 483 487 4.1 4.0 3.8 – 4.2 

Arizona ............................. 5,492 5,606 3,328 3,440 3,165 3,274 163 166 4.9 4.8 4.3 – 5.3 

Colorado ........................... 4,399 4,477 2,992 3,096 2,911 2,995 81 102 2.7 3.3 2.8 – 3.7 

Idaho ................................. 1,305 1,337 835 857 808 833 27 24 3.2 2.8 2.5 – 3.2 

Montana ............................ 834 843 525 528 504 509 21 20 3.9 3.7 3.3 – 4.2 

Nevada ............................. 2,328 2,382 1,458 1,500 1,385 1,432 74 68 5.1 4.6 4.0 – 5.1 

New Mexico ...................... 1,625 1,633 936 940 881 894 55 47 5.9 4.9 4.4 – 5.5 

Utah .................................. 2,248 2,303 1,548 1,572 1,498 1,523 50 49 3.3 3.1 2.7 – 3.5 

Wyoming .......................... 448 448 293 290 281 278 12 12 4.2 4.1 3.6 – 4.6 

Pacific .................................. 41,679 42,018 26,059 26,331 24,836 25,218 1,223 1,114 4.7 4.2 4.0 – 4.4 

Alaska ............................... 547 547 361 357 336 333 25 24 7.0 6.6 5.9 – 7.3 

California .......................... 30,865 31,063 19,205 19,398 18,285 18,583 920 815 4.8 4.2 4.0 – 4.4 

Hawaii ............................... 1,093 1,092 684 679 667 662 17 17 2.4 2.4 2.0 – 2.8 

Oregon .............................. 3,332 3,376 2,091 2,105 2,005 2,017 86 87 4.1 4.2 3.7 – 4.6 

Washington ...................... 5,842 5,941 3,719 3,793 3,544 3,622 175 171 4.7 4.5 4.1 – 4.9 

Puerto Rico ............................ 2,739 2,682 1,096 1,084 977 985 119 100 10.8 9.2 NA

Region, division, and state Error range of rate, 

2018 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,

2017–18 annual averages

(Percent)

Employment-population ratio 1

2017 2018

United States ................................................................ 60.1 60.4 0.3 60.2 – 60.6 

Northeast ......................................................................... 60.1 60.6 .5 60.2 – 61.0 

New England ................................................................ 63.4 64.4 1.0 63.7 – 65.0 

Connecticut ................................................................ 62.8 63.4 .6 62.1 – 64.7 

Maine ......................................................................... 61.4 61.2 -.2 59.8 – 62.6 

Massachusetts .......................................................... 63.7 65.3 1.6 64.4 – 66.2 

New Hampshire ......................................................... 66.4 66.6 .2 65.6 – 67.7 

Rhode Island ............................................................. 61.6 61.9 .3 60.7 – 63.2 

Vermont ..................................................................... 65.0 64.9 -.1 63.8 – 66.1 

Middle Atlantic .............................................................. 59.0 59.2 .2 58.7 – 59.7 

New Jersey ................................................................ 60.2 59.9 -.3 58.9 – 60.8 

New York ................................................................... 58.0 58.5 .5 57.8 – 59.2 

Pennsylvania ............................................................. 59.6 59.9 .3 59.1 – 60.6 

Midwest ........................................................................... 62.4 62.5 .1 62.1 – 62.9 

East North Central ....................................................... 61.1 61.2 .1 60.7 – 61.7 

Illinois ......................................................................... 61.4 61.7 .3 60.9 – 62.5 

Indiana ....................................................................... 62.2 62.7 .5 61.6 – 63.8 

Michigan .................................................................... 58.6 58.8 .2 57.9 – 59.7 

Ohio ........................................................................... 59.6 59.5 -.1 58.7 – 60.3 

Wisconsin .................................................................. 66.2 65.9 -.3 64.8 – 66.9 

West North Central ...................................................... 65.3 65.3 .0 64.7 – 65.9 

Iowa ........................................................................... 66.3 66.7 .4 65.5 – 68.0 

Kansas ....................................................................... 64.3 64.5 .2 63.3 – 65.6 

Minnesota .................................................................. 67.8 67.8 .0 66.7 – 69.0 

Missouri ..................................................................... 61.7 61.6 -.1 60.6 – 62.6 

Nebraska ................................................................... 67.1 67.3 .2 66.3 – 68.3 

North Dakota ............................................................. 68.9 67.7 -1.2 66.2 – 69.2 

South Dakota ............................................................. 66.7 66.6 -.1 65.3 – 67.9 

South ............................................................................... 58.9 59.2 .3 58.9 – 59.4 

South Atlantic ............................................................... 59.2 59.3 .1 58.9 – 59.8 

Delaware .................................................................... 59.8 60.2 .4 58.9 – 61.4 

District of Columbia ................................................... 66.2 66.5 .3 65.3 – 67.7 

Florida ........................................................................ 57.1 57.3 .2 56.6 – 57.9 

Georgia ...................................................................... 60.3 60.6 .3 59.7 – 61.5 

Maryland .................................................................... 64.6 64.6 .0 63.5 – 65.7 

North Carolina ........................................................... 58.8 58.8 .0 58.0 – 59.6 

South Carolina ........................................................... 55.9 56.0 .1 55.2 – 56.9 

Virginia ....................................................................... 62.9 63.2 .3 62.3 – 64.2 

West Virginia ............................................................. 50.5 51.0 .5 49.3 – 52.6 

East South Central ....................................................... 56.0 56.4 .4 55.7 – 57.0 

Alabama .................................................................... 54.3 54.9 .6 53.9 – 55.9 

Kentucky .................................................................... 56.2 56.5 .3 55.3 – 57.7 

Mississippi ................................................................. 53.1 53.0 -.1 51.8 – 54.2 

Tennessee ................................................................. 58.3 58.8 .5 57.7 – 59.8 

West South Central ...................................................... 59.8 60.2 .4 59.7 – 60.7 

Arkansas .................................................................... 55.8 55.7 -.1 54.7 – 56.7 

Louisiana ................................................................... 55.7 55.9 .2 54.8 – 56.9 

Oklahoma .................................................................. 58.6 59.1 .5 57.9 – 60.3 

Texas ......................................................................... 61.1 61.5 .4 61.0 – 62.1 

West ................................................................................ 60.1 60.5 .4 60.2 – 60.9 

Mountain ....................................................................... 61.2 61.7 .5 61.1 – 62.3 

Arizona ....................................................................... 57.6 58.4 .8 57.3 – 59.4 

Colorado .................................................................... 66.2 66.9 .7 65.7 – 68.1 

Idaho .......................................................................... 61.9 62.3 .4 61.2 – 63.4 

Montana ..................................................................... 60.5 60.3 -.2 59.3 – 61.4 

Nevada ...................................................................... 59.5 60.1 .6 59.2 – 61.1 

New Mexico ............................................................... 54.2 54.7 .5 53.6 – 55.9 

Utah ........................................................................... 66.6 66.1 -.5 65.1 – 67.2 

Wyoming .................................................................... 62.6 62.1 -.5 60.7 – 63.4 

Pacific ........................................................................... 59.6 60.0 .4 59.6 – 60.4 

Alaska ........................................................................ 61.4 60.9 -.5 59.5 – 62.4 

California .................................................................... 59.2 59.8 .6 59.4 – 60.3 

Hawaii ........................................................................ 61.0 60.6 -.4 59.5 – 61.8 

Oregon ....................................................................... 60.2 59.8 -.4 58.5 – 61.0 

Washington ............................................................... 60.7 61.0 .3 60.0 – 61.9 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................... 35.7 36.7 1.0 

Region, division, and state Error range of ratio, 

2018 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.

DE

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 ra2018 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.

DE

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, 2018 annua

(U.S. rate = 3.9 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.

DE

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,2018 annual averaJHV

(U.S. UDWLR = 60.4 percent)