For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, February 29, 2012 USDL-12-0371 

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

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

(NOTE: This release was reissued on Wednesday, April 4, 2012, to incorporate minor corrections 

to employment and labor force estimates for Montana due to an input error. Montana’s 2010 

employment-population ratio changed from 59.7 to 59.9 percent, while its 2011 ratio changed from 

59.8 to 59.7 percent, impacting the state counts for over-the-year employment-population ratio 

changes. The introductory paragraph of the release, as well as tables 1 and 2, have been modified 

accordingly.)

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2011 ANNUAL AVERAGES 

In 2011, annual average unemployment rates declined in 48 states and rose in 2 states and the District of 

Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios decreased 

in 25 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 18 states, and were unchanged in 7 states. The 

U.S. jobless rate in 2011 was 8.9 percent, down 0.7 percentage point from the prior year. The national 

employment-population ratio continued to trend down to 58.4 percent in 2011. 

Regional Unemployment 

All four regions posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2011. The Midwest 

experienced the greatest decline (-1.1 percentage points), followed by the West (-0.6 point) and the 

Northeast and South (-0.5 point each). The West, at 10.4 percent, registered the only jobless rate 

significantly higher than that of the U.S. in 2011. The Northeast and Midwest, at 8.2 and 8.4 percent, 

respectively, both had rates significantly below the national figure. (See table 1.) 

Eight of the 9 geographic divisions reported statistically significant over-the-year unemployment rate 

changes in 2011, all of which were decreases. The largest of these occurred in the East North Central 

(-1.3 percentage points) and New England (-0.8 point). For the fourth year in a row, the Pacific recorded 

the highest unemployment rate, 11.0 percent in 2011. The next highest rates were in the East South 

Central and South Atlantic, 9.4 and 9.3 percent, respectively. The rates of these three divisions were 

significantly above the U.S. average. The West North Central division again posted the lowest jobless 

rate, 6.6 percent. Three other divisions—the Middle Atlantic, New England, and West South Central—

also had rates significantly below the national figure. 

State Unemployment 

In 2011, 30 states posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was 

in Michigan (-2.4 percentage points). Four additional states experienced decreases greater than 1.0 

percentage point: Ohio (-1.4 points), Utah (-1.3 points), Oregon (-1.2 points), and Indiana (-1.1 points). 
- 2 - 

The remaining 20 states and the District of Columbia reported annual average unemployment rates for 

2011 that were not appreciably different from those of the previous year, even though some had changes 

that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table A and chart 1.) 

Eight states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more in 2011. 

Nevada again posted the highest unemployment rate, 13.5 percent, followed by California, 11.7 percent. 

North Dakota registered the lowest jobless rate among states for the third year in a row, 3.5 percent, 

followed by Nebraska, 4.4 percent. Overall, 28 states had unemployment rates that were significantly 

lower than the U.S. rate of 8.9 percent, while 10 states and the District of Columbia recorded rates 

significantly above it. (See table B and chart 2.) 

Regional Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2011, the West was the only region to register a statistically significant change (-0.4 percentage point) 

in its employment-population ratio—the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years 

of age and over with a job. The Midwest continued to report the highest ratio, 60.4 percent, while the 

South, at 57.5 percent, maintained the lowest. The South and West posted employment-population ratios 

that were significantly lower than the national figure of 58.4 percent, while the Midwest recorded a 

significantly higher ratio. (See table 2.) 

The Mountain was the only division to register a statistically significant change in its employmentpopulation ratio in 2011 (-0.7 percentage point). The East South Central again recorded the lowest 

proportion of employed persons, 55.2 percent. The next lowest ratios were posted in the Pacific, 56.9 

percent; South Atlantic, 57.3 percent; and Middle Atlantic, 57.7 percent. Ratios in all four of these 

divisions were significantly below the national average. The division with the highest employmentpopulation ratio was the West North Central, at 64.7 percent, followed by New England, at 61.6 percent. 

These two divisions, along with the Mountain and West South Central, at 59.1 percent each, registered 

employment-population ratios measurably above that of the U.S. The ratio registered in the Pacific in 

2011 was a series low. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.) 

State Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2011, Utah registered the largest employment-population ratio decline among states (-1.0 percentage 

point). The next largest statistically significant declines occurred in Arizona (-0.9 percentage point), 

Nevada and New Mexico (-0.8 point each), and New York (-0.5 point). The District of Columbia also 

reported a measurable decline (-1.3 percentage points). Virginia posted the only significant ratio 

increase among states (+0.2 percentage point). The remaining 44 states had employment-population 

ratios that were not significantly different from those of a year earlier. 

West Virginia again reported the lowest employment-population ratio among the states, 49.5 percent. 

West Virginia has had the lowest employment-population ratio each year since the series began in 1976. 

Four states in the West North Central division again posted the highest ratios: North Dakota, 69.3 

percent; Nebraska, 68.5 percent; South Dakota, 68.1 percent; and Minnesota, 67.1 percent. Twenty-three 

states and the District of Columbia recorded employment-population ratios that were significantly above 

the U.S. ratio of 58.4 percent, and 16 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. The remaining 11 

states had ratios that were not measurably different from that of the nation. Five states registered the 

lowest employment-population ratios in their series in 2011: California, 56.0 percent; Hawaii, 58.6 

percent; Nevada, 57.2 percent; New Mexico, 54.3 percent; and North Carolina, 56.2 percent. (See table 

C and chart 3.) 
- 3 - 

_________________ 

The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2012 is 

scheduled to be released on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan 

Area Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be released 

on Friday, March 23, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). 

 
- 4 - 

Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2010–11

annual averages

2010 2011

Arizona .................................... 10.5 9.5 -1.0

California ................................. 12.4 11.7 -.7

Colorado .................................. 8.9 8.3 -.6

Delaware ................................. 8.0 7.3 -.7

Florida ..................................... 11.3 10.5 -.8

Illinois ...................................... 10.5 9.8 -.7

Indiana .................................... 10.1 9.0 -1.1

Kansas .................................... 7.2 6.7 -.5

Kentucky ................................. 10.2 9.5 -.7

Maine ...................................... 8.2 7.5 -.7

Maryland ................................. 7.8 7.0 -.8

Massachusetts ........................ 8.3 7.4 -.9

Michigan .................................. 12.7 10.3 -2.4

Minnesota ................................ 7.3 6.4 -.9

Missouri .................................. 9.4 8.6 -.8

New Hampshire ........................ 6.1 5.4 -.7

New York ................................. 8.6 8.2 -.4

North Dakota ............................ 3.8 3.5 -.3

Ohio ........................................ 10.0 8.6 -1.4

Oklahoma ................................ 6.9 6.2 -.7

Oregon .................................... 10.7 9.5 -1.2

Pennsylvania ............................ 8.5 7.9 -.6

South Carolina ......................... 11.2 10.3 -.9

South Dakota ........................... 5.0 4.7 -.3

Utah ........................................ 8.0 6.7 -1.3

Vermont .................................. 6.4 5.6 -.8

Virginia .................................... 6.9 6.2 -.7

Washington ............................. 9.9 9.2 -.7

Wisconsin ............................... 8.5 7.5 -1.0

Wyoming ................................. 7.0 6.0 -1.0

Rate

State Over-the-year rate 

change 
- 5 - 

State Rate 

United States ................................................... 8.9

Alaska ............................................................ 7.6

Arkansas ......................................................... 8.0

California ......................................................... 11.7

Colorado .......................................................... 8.3

Delaware ......................................................... 7.3

District of Columbia .......................................... 10.2

Florida ............................................................. 10.5

Georgia ........................................................... 9.8

Hawaii ............................................................. 6.7

Illinois ............................................................. 9.8

Iowa ................................................................ 5.9

Kansas ........................................................... 6.7

Louisiana ......................................................... 7.3

Maine .............................................................. 7.5

Maryland ......................................................... 7.0

Massachusetts ................................................ 7.4

Michigan ......................................................... 10.3

Minnesota ....................................................... 6.4

Mississippi ...................................................... 10.7

Montana .......................................................... 6.8

Nebraska ......................................................... 4.4

Nevada ............................................................ 13.5

New Hampshire ................................................ 5.4

New Mexico ..................................................... 7.4

New York ........................................................ 8.2

North Carolina .................................................. 10.5

North Dakota ................................................... 3.5

Oklahoma ........................................................ 6.2

Pennsylvania ................................................... 7.9

Rhode Island .................................................... 11.3

South Carolina ................................................. 10.3

South Dakota ................................................... 4.7

Texas .............................................................. 7.9

Utah ................................................................ 6.7

Vermont .......................................................... 5.6

Virginia ............................................................ 6.2

West Virginia ................................................... 8.0

Wisconsin ....................................................... 7.5

Wyoming ......................................................... 6.0

of the U.S., 2011 annual averages

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

State Ratio 

United States ................................................... 58.4

Alabama .......................................................... 53.4

Alaska ............................................................ 64.2

Arizona ........................................................... 55.8

Arkansas ......................................................... 55.9

California ......................................................... 56.0

Colorado .......................................................... 63.7

Connecticut ..................................................... 62.0

Delaware ......................................................... 57.3

District of Columbia .......................................... 60.1

Florida ............................................................. 54.4

Illinois ............................................................. 59.5

Iowa ................................................................ 65.9

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

Kentucky ......................................................... 55.5

Louisiana ......................................................... 54.9

Maine .............................................................. 60.3

Maryland ......................................................... 62.8

Massachusetts ................................................ 60.7

Michigan ......................................................... 53.9

Minnesota ....................................................... 67.1

Mississippi ...................................................... 53.5

Missouri .......................................................... 59.9

Nebraska ......................................................... 68.5

Nevada ............................................................ 57.2

New Hampshire ................................................ 65.9

New Jersey ...................................................... 59.8

New Mexico ..................................................... 54.3

New York ........................................................ 56.5

North Carolina .................................................. 56.2

North Dakota ................................................... 69.3

South Carolina ................................................. 53.5

South Dakota ................................................... 68.1

Texas .............................................................. 60.4

Utah ................................................................ 62.5

Vermont .......................................................... 66.4

Virginia ............................................................ 64.7

Washington ..................................................... 59.6

West Virginia ................................................... 49.5

Wisconsin ....................................................... 63.5

Wyoming ......................................................... 65.4

from that of the U.S., 2011 annual averages

Table C. 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 employment and unemployment on a place-of-residence basis. The 

universe for each is the civilian noninstitutional population 16 

years of age and over. 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 labormanagement 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 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 over 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, which underwent substantial enhancement at 

the beginning of 2005, utilizes 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 model-based 

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 end of each 

year. The adjusted estimates incorporate updated population 

data from the U.S. Census Bureau, any revisions in the other 

data sources, and model reestimation. The population data 

(except for Puerto Rico) reflect, for the first time, the results 

of 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 are changed for 5 years, the population 

estimates are adjusted back to the new decennial estimates 

base of 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. In 2005, the LAUS program 

introduced several improvements to its methodology. Among 

these was the development of model-based error measures for 

the monthly estimates and the estimates of over-the-month 

changes. Annual average model-based error measures 

became available for the first time after 2006. The 

introductory section of this release preserves the long-time 

practice of highlighting the direction of the movements in 

regional and state unemployment rates and employmentpopulation ratios regardless of their statistical significance. 

The remainder of the analysis in the release—other than 

historical highs and lows—takes statistical significance into 

consideration. 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 or employment-population ratios are 

statistically significant. The average magnitude of the overthe-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 0.5 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. More details can be found on 

the Web site. Measures of nonsampling error are not 

available, but additional information on the subject is 

provided in Employment & Earnings Online, available on the 

BLS Web site at www.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm. 

Additional information 

More complete information on the technical procedures 

used to develop these estimates and additional data appear in 

Employment & Earnings Online. 

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,

2010-11 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Population Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

United States ....................... 237,830 239,618 153,889 153,617 139,064 139,869 14,825 13,747 9.6 8.9 8.9 - 9.0 

Northeast ............................... 43,812 44,082 28,287 28,186 25,824 25,880 2,462 2,305 8.7 8.2 8.0 - 8.4 

New England ....................... 11,520 11,589 7,756 7,740 7,097 7,140 659 599 8.5 7.7 7.4 - 8.1 

Connecticut ...................... 2,796 2,822 1,917 1,918 1,738 1,749 178 169 9.3 8.8 8.3 - 9.3 

Maine ................................ 1,073 1,079 701 704 643 651 57 53 8.2 7.5 7.0 - 8.1 

Massachusetts ................. 5,245 5,275 3,469 3,456 3,181 3,202 289 254 8.3 7.4 6.8 - 7.9 

New Hampshire ................ 1,056 1,060 739 738 694 698 45 40 6.1 5.4 5.1 - 5.8 

Rhode Island .................... 842 843 570 563 504 500 67 63 11.7 11.3 10.5 - 12.0 

Vermont ............................ 508 511 360 359 337 339 23 20 6.4 5.6 5.1 - 6.0 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 32,292 32,492 20,531 20,446 18,728 18,740 1,803 1,706 8.8 8.3 8.1 - 8.6 

New Jersey ....................... 6,860 6,915 4,554 4,556 4,117 4,132 437 424 9.6 9.3 8.8 - 9.9 

New York .......................... 15,379 15,452 9,587 9,504 8,762 8,730 825 775 8.6 8.2 7.8 - 8.5 

Pennsylvania .................... 10,053 10,125 6,390 6,386 5,849 5,879 541 507 8.5 7.9 7.5 - 8.4 

Midwest .................................. 51,801 52,080 34,467 34,308 31,210 31,442 3,257 2,866 9.5 8.4 8.1 - 8.6 

East North Central .............. 36,016 36,172 23,473 23,281 21,014 21,143 2,459 2,137 10.5 9.2 8.9 - 9.5 

Illinois ................................ 9,905 9,950 6,603 6,566 5,911 5,925 692 640 10.5 9.8 9.2 - 10.3 

Indiana .............................. 4,964 5,006 3,177 3,188 2,856 2,901 320 287 10.1 9.0 8.3 - 9.7 

Michigan ........................... 7,739 7,753 4,747 4,658 4,147 4,178 601 480 12.7 10.3 9.7 - 10.9 

Ohio .................................. 8,970 8,999 5,864 5,806 5,279 5,305 586 501 10.0 8.6 8.1 - 9.2 

Wisconsin ......................... 4,438 4,465 3,083 3,062 2,822 2,833 261 229 8.5 7.5 7.0 - 8.0 

West North Central ............. 15,785 15,908 10,994 11,028 10,196 10,299 798 729 7.3 6.6 6.4 - 6.9 

Iowa .................................. 2,359 2,377 1,670 1,664 1,565 1,566 105 98 6.3 5.9 5.4 - 6.4 

Kansas .............................. 2,150 2,166 1,505 1,505 1,397 1,404 108 101 7.2 6.7 6.2 - 7.2 

Minnesota ......................... 4,117 4,152 2,959 2,978 2,742 2,787 217 191 7.3 6.4 6.0 - 6.8 

Missouri ............................ 4,630 4,651 3,053 3,046 2,767 2,786 286 261 9.4 8.6 7.9 - 9.2 

Nebraska .......................... 1,387 1,403 989 1,005 942 961 46 45 4.7 4.4 4.0 - 4.9 

North Dakota .................... 521 533 376 383 361 370 14 13 3.8 3.5 3.1 - 3.9 

South Dakota ................... 620 625 443 446 421 425 22 21 5.0 4.7 4.3 - 5.1 

South ...................................... 87,697 88,998 55,598 56,134 50,421 51,192 5,176 4,942 9.3 8.8 8.6 - 9.0 

South Atlantic ...................... 46,422 47,108 29,489 29,747 26,560 26,986 2,929 2,760 9.9 9.3 9.0 - 9.5 

Delaware .......................... 701 711 437 439 402 407 35 32 8.0 7.3 6.8 - 7.9 

District of Columbia .......... 503 514 343 344 309 309 35 35 10.1 10.2 9.5 - 11.0 

Florida ............................... 14,941 15,215 9,132 9,249 8,102 8,278 1,030 970 11.3 10.5 10.1 - 10.9 

Georgia ............................. 7,320 7,379 4,695 4,725 4,214 4,262 481 463 10.2 9.8 9.2 - 10.4 

Maryland 4 486 4 545 3 057 3 072 2 818 2 856 239 217 7 8 7 0 6 6 7 5

Region, division, and state Error range of rate, 

2011 1

Maryland ........................... 4,486 4,545 3,057 3,072 2,818 2,856 239 217 7.8 7.0 6.6 - 7.5 

North Carolina .................. 7,286 7,405 4,617 4,654 4,112 4,165 505 489 10.9 10.5 9.9 - 11.1 

South Carolina ................. 3,566 3,616 2,151 2,157 1,909 1,936 241 221 11.2 10.3 9.5 - 11.1 

Virginia .............................. 6,143 6,237 4,255 4,306 3,960 4,037 295 269 6.9 6.2 5.8 - 6.7 

West Virginia .................... 1,477 1,487 802 800 734 736 68 64 8.5 8.0 7.1 - 8.8 

East South Central .............. 14,197 14,323 8,641 8,735 7,784 7,910 857 824 9.9 9.4 9.0 - 9.9 

Alabama ........................... 3,692 3,731 2,179 2,191 1,972 1,994 207 197 9.5 9.0 7.8 - 10.1 

Kentucky ........................... 3,350 3,371 2,060 2,068 1,849 1,871 211 197 10.2 9.5 8.8 - 10.3 

Mississippi ........................ 2,227 2,244 1,317 1,344 1,179 1,201 138 143 10.5 10.7 9.7 - 11.6 

Tennessee ........................ 4,928 4,977 3,084 3,133 2,783 2,845 301 288 9.8 9.2 8.5 - 9.9 

West South Central ............ 27,078 27,567 17,468 17,653 16,078 16,296 1,390 1,357 8.0 7.7 7.4 - 8.0 

Arkansas .......................... 2,233 2,253 1,357 1,370 1,249 1,260 108 110 7.9 8.0 7.3 - 8.8 

Louisiana .......................... 3,439 3,475 2,070 2,061 1,915 1,909 155 151 7.5 7.3 6.5 - 8.2 

Oklahoma ......................... 2,834 2,870 1,771 1,771 1,649 1,662 122 109 6.9 6.2 5.6 - 6.7 

Texas ................................ 18,573 18,969 12,270 12,452 11,265 11,465 1,005 987 8.2 7.9 7.6 - 8.3 

West ....................................... 55,097 55,856 35,902 35,878 31,938 32,160 3,965 3,718 11.0 10.4 10.1 - 10.6 

Mountain .............................. 16,737 16,926 11,073 10,989 10,007 10,009 1,066 980 9.6 8.9 8.6 - 9.2 

Arizona ............................. 4,898 4,926 3,100 3,034 2,775 2,747 325 288 10.5 9.5 8.7 - 10.3 

Colorado ........................... 3,870 3,922 2,725 2,723 2,481 2,497 244 226 8.9 8.3 7.8 - 8.8 

Idaho ................................. 1,166 1,181 763 771 697 704 67 67 8.8 8.7 7.9 - 9.5 

Montana .......................... 778 787 500 504 466 470 34 35 6.9 6.8 6.1 - 7.6 

Nevada ............................. 2,062 2,095 1,386 1,386 1,195 1,198 190 188 13.7 13.5 12.8 - 14.3 

New Mexico ...................... 1,560 1,583 934 928 860 859 74 69 7.9 7.4 6.7 - 8.2 

Utah .................................. 1,972 1,996 1,362 1,338 1,253 1,248 109 90 8.0 6.7 6.2 - 7.3 

Wyoming .......................... 431 438 303 304 282 286 21 18 7.0 6.0 5.4 - 6.5 

Pacific .................................. 38,359 38,930 24,830 24,889 21,931 22,151 2,899 2,738 11.7 11.0 10.7 - 11.3 

Alaska ............................... 518 529 364 367 335 339 29 28 8.0 7.6 6.8 - 8.3 

California .......................... 28,531 28,968 18,316 18,385 16,052 16,227 2,265 2,158 12.4 11.7 11.4 - 12.1 

Hawaii ............................... 1,028 1,051 649 661 605 616 45 44 6.9 6.7 6.1 - 7.3 

Oregon .............................. 3,035 3,067 1,984 1,992 1,772 1,804 211 188 10.7 9.5 8.8 - 10.1 

Washington ...................... 5,247 5,315 3,516 3,485 3,167 3,165 349 319 9.9 9.2 8.5 - 9.8 

Puerto Rico ............................ 3,100 3,152 1,297 1,275 1,089 1,075 209 200 16.1 15.7 NA

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

c = corrected.

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 

reestimation. 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.

c
Table 2. Employment-population ratios of persons 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state,

2010-11 annual averages

(Percent)

Employment-population ratio 1

2010 2011

United States ................................................................ 58.5 58.4 -0.1 58.2 - 58.6 

Northeast ......................................................................... 58.9 58.7 -.2 58.3 - 59.1 

New England ................................................................ 61.6 61.6 .0 60.9 - 62.3 

Connecticut ................................................................ 62.2 62.0 -.2 60.8 - 63.1 

Maine ......................................................................... 59.9 60.3 .4 59.1 - 61.5 

Massachusetts .......................................................... 60.6 60.7 .1 59.6 - 61.8 

New Hampshire ......................................................... 65.7 65.9 .2 64.9 - 66.9 

Rhode Island ............................................................. 59.8 59.3 -.5 58.2 - 60.5 

Vermont ..................................................................... 66.2 66.4 .2 65.2 - 67.6 

Middle Atlantic .............................................................. 58.0 57.7 -.3 57.1 - 58.2 

New Jersey ................................................................ 60.0 59.8 -.2 58.8 - 60.7 

New York ................................................................... 57.0 56.5 -.5 55.8 - 57.1 

Pennsylvania ............................................................. 58.2 58.1 -.1 57.2 - 58.9 

Midwest ........................................................................... 60.2 60.4 .2 60.0 - 60.8 

East North Central ....................................................... 58.3 58.5 .2 57.9 - 59.0 

Illinois ......................................................................... 59.7 59.5 -.2 58.6 - 60.5 

Indiana ....................................................................... 57.5 58.0 .5 56.5 - 59.4 

Michigan .................................................................... 53.6 53.9 .3 52.9 - 54.9 

Ohio ........................................................................... 58.8 59.0 .2 58.1 - 59.8 

Wisconsin .................................................................. 63.6 63.5 -.1 62.1 - 64.8 

West North Central ...................................................... 64.6 64.7 .1 64.1 - 65.3 

Iowa ........................................................................... 66.3 65.9 -.4 64.8 - 67.0 

Kansas ....................................................................... 65.0 64.8 -.2 63.7 - 66.0 

Minnesota .................................................................. 66.6 67.1 .5 66.0 - 68.3 

Missouri ..................................................................... 59.8 59.9 .1 58.6 - 61.2 

Nebraska ................................................................... 67.9 68.5 .6 67.4 - 69.6 

North Dakota ............................................................. 69.3 69.3 .0 67.9 - 70.8 

South Dakota ............................................................. 67.9 68.1 .2 66.9 - 69.3 

South ............................................................................... 57.5 57.5 .0 57.2 - 57.8 

South Atlantic ............................................................... 57.2 57.3 .1 56.8 - 57.7 

Delaware .................................................................... 57.3 57.3 .0 56.2 - 58.3 

District of Columbia ................................................... 61.4 60.1 -1.3 59.0 - 61.3 

Florida ........................................................................ 54.2 54.4 .2 53.5 - 55.3 

Georgia ...................................................................... 57.6 57.8 .2 56.7 - 58.8 

Maryland 62 8 62 8 0 61 9 63 7

Region, division, and state Error range of ratio, 

2011 2

Over-the-year 

change

Maryland .................................................................... 62.8 62.8 .0 61.9 - 63.7 

North Carolina ........................................................... 56.4 56.2 -.2 55.2 - 57.2 

South Carolina ........................................................... 53.5 53.5 .0 52.3 - 54.8 

Virginia ....................................................................... 64.5 64.7 .2 63.9 - 65.6 

West Virginia ............................................................. 49.7 49.5 -.2 47.9 - 51.1 

East South Central ....................................................... 54.8 55.2 .4 54.4 - 56.0 

Alabama .................................................................... 53.4 53.4 .0 51.7 - 55.2 

Kentucky .................................................................... 55.2 55.5 .3 54.2 - 56.8 

Mississippi ................................................................. 52.9 53.5 .6 52.0 - 55.0 

Tennessee ................................................................. 56.5 57.2 .7 55.9 - 58.4 

West South Central ...................................................... 59.4 59.1 -.3 58.5 - 59.7 

Arkansas .................................................................... 55.9 55.9 .0 54.7 - 57.1 

Louisiana ................................................................... 55.7 54.9 -.8 53.4 - 56.5 

Oklahoma .................................................................. 58.2 57.9 -.3 56.6 - 59.2 

Texas ......................................................................... 60.7 60.4 -.3 59.7 - 61.2 

West ................................................................................ 58.0 57.6 -.4 57.2 - 57.9 

Mountain ....................................................................... 59.8 59.1 -.7 58.5 - 59.8 

Arizona ....................................................................... 56.7 55.8 -.9 54.1 - 57.4 

Colorado .................................................................... 64.1 63.7 -.4 62.2 - 65.2 

Idaho .......................................................................... 59.7 59.6 -.1 58.1 - 61.0 

Montana ................................................................... 59.9 59.7 -.2 58.2 - 61.3 

Nevada ...................................................................... 58.0 57.2 -.8 56.0 - 58.3 

New Mexico ............................................................... 55.1 54.3 -.8 53.2 - 55.3 

Utah ........................................................................... 63.5 62.5 -1.0 61.0 - 64.1 

Wyoming .................................................................... 65.4 65.4 .0 64.1 - 66.7 

Pacific ........................................................................... 57.2 56.9 -.3 56.5 - 57.3 

Alaska ........................................................................ 64.7 64.2 -.5 62.5 - 65.9 

California .................................................................... 56.3 56.0 -.3 55.6 - 56.5 

Hawaii ........................................................................ 58.8 58.6 -.2 57.4 - 59.9 

Oregon ....................................................................... 58.4 58.8 .4 57.8 - 59.8 

Washington ............................................................... 60.4 59.6 -.8 58.5 - 60.6 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................... 35.1 34.1 -1.0 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. c = corrected.

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 reestimation. Data for Puerto

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

Population Survey.

c
hart 1: Over-the-year change in unemployment rates by st

Chart 1. Over-the-year change in unemployme2011 annual averages

Mountain

West

North Central N

(U.S. rate = -0.7 percent)

2011 annual averages

(U.S. change = -0.7 percentage point

MONT.

ORE.

S.D.

N.D.

MINN.

IDAHO WIS. 

WASH.

MICH

East

North Central

N

Midd

Atlan

CALIF.

NEV.

WYO.

COLO. KAN. MO.

NEB.

UTAH

ILL.

KY.

IOWA

IND.

OHIO

MICH.

W.V

TEXAS

N.M. ARIZ.

GA.

LA

OKLA.

ALA.

ARK.

MISS.

TENN. 

Pacific

LA.

East

South Central

West

South Central

HAWAII

ALASKA
Chart 2. Unemployment rates by state, 2011 a

Chart 2: Unemployment rates by state, 201

Mountain

West

North Central

East N

(U.S. rate = 8.9 percent) (U.S. rate = 8.9 percent)

MONT.

ORE.

S.D.

WYO

N.D.

MINN.

IDAHO WIS. 

WASH.

MICH.

East

North Central

Midd

Atlan

CALIF.

NEV.

WYO.

COLO. KAN. MO.

NEB.

UTAH

ILL.

KY.

IOWA

IND.

OHIO

W.V

TEXAS

N.M. ARIZ.

GA.

LA.

OKLA.

ALA.

ARK.

MISS.

TENN. 

Pacific

East

South Central

West

South Central

HAWAII

ALASKA
Chart 3: Employment-population ratios by state, 20

Chart 3. Employment-population ratios by state2011 annual averages

Mountain

West

North Central N

(U.S. rate = 58.4 percent)

2011 annual averages

(U.S. ratio = 58.4 percent)

MONT.

ORE.

S.D.

N.D.

MINN.

IDAHO WIS. 

WASH.

MICH

East

North Central

N

Midd

Atlan

CALIF.

NEV.

WYO.

COLO. KAN. MO.

NEB.

UTAH

ILL.

KY.

IOWA

IND.

OHIO

MICH.

W.V

TEXAS

N.M. ARIZ.

GA.

LA

OKLA.

ALA.

ARK.

MISS.

TENN. 

Pacific

LA.

East

South Central

West

South Central

HAWAII

ALASKA