For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, March 1, 2013 USDL-13-0340 

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 3, 2013, to incorporate minor corrections 

to employment and labor force estimates for Nebraska and, to an even lesser extent, the six other 

states in the West North Central division, due to an estimation error. Nebraska’s 2011 

unemployment rate changed from 4.5 to 4.4 percent, and its 2011 employment-population ratio 

changed from 68.4 to 68.6 percent. Missouri’s 2011 employment-population ratio changed from 

59.6 to 59.5 percent. The state employment-population ratio analysis, as well as tables A, 1, and 2 

and chart 1, have been modified accordingly.)

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2012 ANNUAL AVERAGES 

In 2012, annual average unemployment rates declined in 46 states and the District of Columbia, rose in 

2 states, and were unchanged in 2 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

Employment-population ratios increased in 26 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 18 

states, and were unchanged in 6 states. The U.S. jobless rate declined by 0.8 percentage point from the 

prior year to 8.1 percent, and the national employment-population ratio edged up to 58.6 percent. 

Regional Unemployment 

Three of the 4 regions had statistically significant unemployment rate decreases from 2011. The West 

experienced the greatest decline (-1.2 percentage points), followed by the South (-1.1 points) and 

Midwest (-0.9 point). The West, at 9.2 percent, had the only jobless rate significantly higher than that of 

the U.S. in 2012. The Midwest and South, at 7.4 and 7.7 percent, respectively, had rates significantly 

below the national figure. (See table 1.) 

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

changes in 2012, all of which were decreases. The largest of these occurred in the East South Central 

(-1.3 percentage points) and Pacific (-1.2 points). For the fifth year in a row, the Pacific had the highest 

unemployment rate, 9.8 percent in 2012. The next highest rate was in the Middle Atlantic, at 8.5 percent. 

The rates of both of these divisions were significantly above the U.S. average. The West North Central 

division again had the lowest jobless rate, 5.6 percent. Two other divisions, the West South Central and 

New England, at 6.6 and 7.2 percent, respectively, also had rates significantly below the national figure. 

State Unemployment 

In 2012, 41 states and the District of Columbia had statistically significant unemployment rate 

decreases, the largest of which were in Nevada (-2.1 percentage points), Florida (-1.7 points), and 

Missouri (-1.5 points). Twelve additional states and the District of Columbia experienced decreases 

greater than 1.0 percentage point. The remaining nine states had annual average unemployment rates for 
- 2 - 

2012 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 chart 1.) 

Three states had unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more in 2012. Nevada again had the highest 

unemployment rate (11.1 percent), followed by California (10.5 percent) and Rhode Island (10.4 

percent). North Dakota had the lowest jobless rate among states for the fourth year in a row (3.1 

percent), followed by Nebraska (3.9 percent) and South Dakota (4.4 percent). Overall, 27 states had 

unemployment rates that were significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 8.1 percent, while 13 states and 

the District of Columbia had rates significantly above it. (See table B and chart 2.) 

Regional Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2012, the South was the only region to have a statistically significant change (+0.3 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 have the highest ratio, 60.5 percent. The West had 

the lowest ratio, at 57.7 percent, followed by the South, at 57.9 percent. These three regions had 

employment-population ratios that were significantly different from the national figure of 58.6 percent. 

(See table 2.) 

The South Atlantic was the only division to have a statistically significant change in its employmentpopulation ratio in 2012 (+0.4 percentage point). The East South Central again had the lowest proportion 

of employed persons, 55.4 percent. The next lowest ratios were in the Pacific (57.1 percent), South 

Atlantic (57.7 percent), and Middle Atlantic (57.8 percent). Ratios in all four of these divisions were 

significantly below the national average. The division with the highest employment-population ratio was 

the West North Central, at 64.5 percent, followed by New England, at 61.3 percent. These two divisions, 

along with the West South Central, at 59.6 percent, had employment-population ratios measurably above 

that of the U.S. 

State Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2012, six states had statistically significant employment-population ratio increases: Montana (+0.9 

percentage point), Florida and Nebraska (+0.8 point each), Kentucky and North Dakota (+0.6 point 

each), and California (+0.4 point). The District of Columbia also had a statistically significant increase 

(+2.1 percentage points). Connecticut and Iowa had the only significant employment-population ratio 

declines among states (-0.7 percentage point each). The remaining 42 states had proportions that were 

not significantly different from those of a year earlier, though some had changes that were at least as 

large numerically as the significant changes. 

West Virginia again had the lowest employment-population ratio among the states, 50.2 percent in 2012. 

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 had the highest ratios: North Dakota (69.7 percent), 

Nebraska (69.4 percent), South Dakota (67.3 percent), and Minnesota (66.9 percent). Overall, 23 states 

and the District of Columbia had employment-population ratios that were significantly above the U.S. 

ratio of 58.6 percent and 16 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. The remaining 11 states had 

ratios that were not significantly different from that of the nation. (See table C and chart 3.) 

_________________ 

The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2013 is 

scheduled to be released on Monday, March 18, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area 
- 3 - 

Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2013 is scheduled to be released on 

Friday, March 22, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). 
- 4 - 

Table A. States w ith statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2011–12

annual averages

2011 2012

Alabama .................................. 8.7 7.3 -1.4

Alaska ..................................... 7.6 7.0 -.6

Arizona .................................... 9.4 8.3 -1.1

Arkansas ................................. 7.9 7.3 -.6

California ................................. 11.8 10.5 -1.3

Colorado .................................. 8.6 8.0 -.6

Connecticut ............................. 8.9 8.4 -.5

District of Columbia .................. 10.1 8.9 -1.2

Florida ..................................... 10.3 8.6 -1.7

Georgia ................................... 9.9 9.0 -.9

Hawaii ..................................... 6.5 5.8 -.7

Idaho ....................................... 8.3 7.1 -1.2

Illinois ...................................... 9.7 8.9 -.8

Iowa ........................................ 5.9 5.2 -.7

Kansas .................................... 6.5 5.7 -.8

Kentucky ................................. 9.5 8.2 -1.3

Louisiana ................................. 7.3 6.4 -.9

Maryland ................................. 7.3 6.8 -.5

Massachusetts ........................ 7.3 6.7 -.6

Michigan .................................. 10.4 9.1 -1.3

Minnesota ................................ 6.5 5.6 -.9

Mississippi .............................. 10.5 9.2 -1.3

Missouri .................................. 8.4 6.9 -1.5

Montana .................................. 6.6 6.0 -.6

Nebraska ................................. 4.4 3.9 -.5

Nevada .................................... 13.2 11.1 -2.1

North Carolina .......................... 10.2 9.5 -.7

North Dakota ............................ 3.5 3.1 -.4

Ohio ........................................ 8.6 7.2 -1.4

Oklahoma ................................ 5.9 5.2 -.7

Oregon .................................... 9.6 8.7 -.9

Rhode Island ............................ 11.2 10.4 -.8

South Carolina ......................... 10.4 9.1 -1.3

South Dakota ........................... 4.8 4.4 -.4

Tennessee ............................... 9.3 8.0 -1.3

Texas ...................................... 7.9 6.8 -1.1

Utah ........................................ 6.9 5.7 -1.2

Vermont .................................. 5.6 5.0 -.6

Virginia .................................... 6.4 5.9 -.5

W ashington ............................. 9.2 8.2 -1.0

W isconsin ............................... 7.5 6.9 -.6

W yoming ................................. 6.1 5.4 -.7

Rate

State Over-the-year rate 

change 
- 5 - 

State Rate 

United States ................................................... 8.1

Alaska ............................................................ 7.0

Arkansas ......................................................... 7.3

California ......................................................... 10.5

Delaware ......................................................... 7.1

District of Columbia .......................................... 8.9

Florida ............................................................. 8.6

Georgia ........................................................... 9.0

Hawaii ............................................................. 5.8

Idaho ............................................................... 7.1

Illinois ............................................................. 8.9

Iowa ................................................................ 5.2

Kansas ........................................................... 5.7

Louisiana ......................................................... 6.4

Maine .............................................................. 7.3

Maryland ......................................................... 6.8

Massachusetts ................................................ 6.7

Michigan ......................................................... 9.1

Minnesota ....................................................... 5.6

Mississippi ...................................................... 9.2

Missouri .......................................................... 6.9

Montana .......................................................... 6.0

Nebraska ......................................................... 3.9

Nevada ............................................................ 11.1

New Hampshire ................................................ 5.5

New Jersey ...................................................... 9.5

New Mexico ..................................................... 6.9

New York ........................................................ 8.5

North Carolina .................................................. 9.5

North Dakota ................................................... 3.1

Ohio ................................................................ 7.2

Oklahoma ........................................................ 5.2

Oregon ............................................................ 8.7

Rhode Island .................................................... 10.4

South Carolina ................................................. 9.1

South Dakota ................................................... 4.4

Texas .............................................................. 6.8

Utah ................................................................ 5.7

Vermont .......................................................... 5.0

Virginia ............................................................ 5.9

Wisconsin ....................................................... 6.9

Wyoming ......................................................... 5.4

of the U.S., 2012 annual averages

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

State Ratio 

United States ................................................... 58.6

Alabama .......................................................... 53.3

Alaska ............................................................ 63.5

Arizona ........................................................... 55.6

Arkansas ......................................................... 55.5

California ......................................................... 56.4

Colorado .......................................................... 63.2

Connecticut ..................................................... 60.6

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

District of Columbia .......................................... 62.9

Florida ............................................................. 55.4

Idaho ............................................................... 60.2

Illinois ............................................................. 60.2

Iowa ................................................................ 65.0

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

Kentucky ......................................................... 56.3

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

Maine .............................................................. 60.5

Maryland ......................................................... 63.2

Massachusetts ................................................ 60.8

Michigan ......................................................... 54.4

Minnesota ....................................................... 66.9

Mississippi ...................................................... 53.7

Montana .......................................................... 60.2

Nebraska ......................................................... 69.4

New Hampshire ................................................ 65.7

New Jersey ...................................................... 59.7

New Mexico ..................................................... 54.8

New York ........................................................ 56.4

North Carolina .................................................. 57.1

North Dakota ................................................... 69.7

South Carolina ................................................. 53.9

South Dakota ................................................... 67.3

Tennessee ....................................................... 57.0

Texas .............................................................. 60.8

Utah ................................................................ 62.9

Vermont .......................................................... 66.2

Virginia ............................................................ 62.7

West Virginia ................................................... 50.2

Wisconsin ....................................................... 63.3

Wyoming ......................................................... 65.1

from that of the U.S., 2012 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. 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,

2011–12 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Population Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate

2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012

United States ....................... 239,618 243,284 153,617 154,975 139,869 142,469 13,747 12,506 8.9 8.1 8.0 – 8.2 

Northeast ............................... 44,127 44,378 28,208 28,389 25,887 26,066 2,321 2,324 8.2 8.2 8.0 – 8.4 

New England ....................... 11,605 11,683 7,735 7,720 7,134 7,161 601 560 7.8 7.2 6.9 – 7.5 

Connecticut ...................... 2,826 2,842 1,902 1,879 1,733 1,722 169 157 8.9 8.4 7.8 – 8.9 

Maine ................................ 1,079 1,083 704 706 649 655 54 52 7.7 7.3 6.8 – 7.9 

Massachusetts ................. 5,289 5,335 3,470 3,475 3,216 3,242 254 234 7.3 6.7 6.2 – 7.3 

New Hampshire ................ 1,059 1,067 738 742 697 701 41 41 5.5 5.5 5.2 – 5.9 

Rhode Island .................... 842 845 563 560 499 502 63 58 11.2 10.4 9.7 – 11.1 

Vermont ............................ 510 512 359 356 339 339 20 18 5.6 5.0 4.6 – 5.4 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 32,522 32,695 20,473 20,669 18,753 18,905 1,720 1,764 8.4 8.5 8.3 – 8.8 

New Jersey ....................... 6,926 6,970 4,545 4,595 4,120 4,159 425 436 9.4 9.5 8.9 – 10.0 

New York .......................... 15,477 15,567 9,528 9,587 8,741 8,773 788 815 8.3 8.5 8.1 – 8.9 

Pennsylvania .................... 10,118 10,158 6,400 6,487 5,893 5,973 507 513 7.9 7.9 7.5 – 8.4 

Midwest .................................. 52,053 52,318 34,265 34,149 31,405 31,631 2,860 2,518 8.3 7.4 7.2 – 7.6 

East North Central .............. 36,152 36,306 23,282 23,200 21,144 21,300 2,139 1,899 9.2 8.2 7.9 – 8.5 

Illinois ................................ 9,942 9,984 6,580 6,593 5,943 6,008 637 585 9.7 8.9 8.3 – 9.4 

Indiana .............................. 5,001 5,030 3,158 3,150 2,875 2,886 283 264 9.0 8.4 7.7 – 9.1 

Michigan ........................... 7,752 7,784 4,676 4,657 4,190 4,232 486 426 10.4 9.1 8.5 – 9.7 

Ohio .................................. 8,995 9,022 5,805 5,748 5,304 5,335 502 413 8.6 7.2 6.7 – 7.7 

Wisconsin ......................... 4,462 4,486 3,064 3,052 2,833 2,840 231 211 7.5 6.9 6.4 – 7.4 

West North Central ............. 15,901 16,013 10,982 10,949 10,261 10,330 721 618 6.6 5.6 5.4 – 5.9 

Iowa .................................. 2,377 2,389 1,659 1,639 1,562 1,553 97 86 5.9 5.2 4.8 – 5.7 

Kansas .............................. 2,164 2,177 1,499 1,489 1,401 1,404 98 85 6.5 5.7 5.3 – 6.2 

Minnesota ......................... 4,153 4,187 2,970 2,969 2,777 2,802 192 168 6.5 5.6 5.3 – 6.0 

Missouri ............................ 4,648 4,669 3,022 2,993 2,767 2,785 255 207 8.4 6.9 6.3 – 7.6 

Nebraska .......................... 1,401 1,412 1,007 1,021 962 981 45 40 4.4 3.9 3.6 – 4.3 

North Dakota .................... 533 545 382 392 369 380 13 12 3.5 3.1 2.7 – 3.5 

South Dakota ................... 625 633 444 446 423 426 21 20 4.8 4.4 4.0 – 4.8 

South ...................................... 89,012 90,105 56,160 56,525 51,237 52,174 4,923 4,351 8.8 7.7 7.5 – 7.9 

South Atlantic ...................... 47,146 47,740 29,753 30,008 26,999 27,538 2,754 2,469 9.3 8.2 8.0 – 8.4 

Delaware .......................... 712 720 441 444 408 412 33 32 7.4 7.1 6.5 – 7.7 

District of Columbia .......... 515 524 348 362 313 329 35 32 10.1 8.9 8.3 – 9.6 

Florida ............................... 15,235 15,457 9,275 9,369 8,322 8,562 953 807 10.3 8.6 8.2 – 9.0 

Georgia ............................. 7,383 7,481 4,768 4,806 4,295 4,372 473 434 9.9 9.0 8.5 – 9.6 

Maryland 4 554 4 601 3 093 3 123 2 868 2 910 225 213 7 3 6 8 6 4 7 2

Region, division, and state Error range of rate, 

2012 1

Maryland ........................... 4,554 4,601 3,093 3,123 2,868 2,910 225 213 7.3 6.8 6.4 – 7.2 

North Carolina .................. 7,403 7,492 4,660 4,723 4,183 4,275 477 448 10.2 9.5 8.9 – 10.0 

South Carolina ................. 3,615 3,658 2,167 2,167 1,942 1,970 226 197 10.4 9.1 8.3 – 9.9 

Virginia .............................. 6,245 6,321 4,198 4,210 3,928 3,962 270 247 6.4 5.9 5.4 – 6.3 

West Virginia .................... 1,485 1,487 803 805 740 746 63 59 7.8 7.3 6.5 – 8.2 

East South Central .............. 14,312 14,405 8,709 8,678 7,894 7,978 814 700 9.4 8.1 7.6 – 8.5 

Alabama ........................... 3,729 3,748 2,182 2,156 1,993 1,999 189 157 8.7 7.3 6.2 – 8.3 

Kentucky ........................... 3,366 3,379 2,072 2,075 1,875 1,904 196 171 9.5 8.2 7.5 – 8.9 

Mississippi ........................ 2,244 2,254 1,338 1,333 1,198 1,211 141 122 10.5 9.2 8.3 – 10.0 

Tennessee ........................ 4,974 5,024 3,117 3,114 2,829 2,864 288 249 9.3 8.0 7.4 – 8.7 

West South Central ............ 27,553 27,961 17,698 17,840 16,343 16,658 1,354 1,182 7.7 6.6 6.4 – 6.9 

Arkansas .......................... 2,252 2,263 1,360 1,356 1,252 1,257 108 99 7.9 7.3 6.6 – 8.0 

Louisiana .......................... 3,474 3,498 2,070 2,084 1,919 1,949 151 134 7.3 6.4 5.6 – 7.3 

Oklahoma ......................... 2,867 2,893 1,784 1,803 1,679 1,709 105 94 5.9 5.2 4.7 – 5.7 

Texas ................................ 18,960 19,307 12,484 12,597 11,494 11,743 991 855 7.9 6.8 6.4 – 7.1 

West ....................................... 55,861 56,598 35,897 35,986 32,167 32,665 3,730 3,321 10.4 9.2 9.0 – 9.4 

Mountain .............................. 16,920 17,168 11,011 11,029 10,030 10,161 981 867 8.9 7.9 7.6 – 8.2 

Arizona ............................. 4,921 4,998 3,049 3,030 2,762 2,779 287 252 9.4 8.3 7.6 – 9.0 

Colorado ........................... 3,924 3,990 2,723 2,743 2,490 2,524 233 220 8.6 8.0 7.5 – 8.5 

Idaho ................................. 1,180 1,194 767 773 703 719 64 55 8.3 7.1 6.3 – 7.8 

Montana ............................ 786 793 499 508 466 477 33 31 6.6 6.0 5.3 – 6.7 

Nevada ............................. 2,097 2,131 1,392 1,379 1,208 1,226 184 152 13.2 11.1 10.4 – 11.7 

New Mexico ...................... 1,582 1,590 932 936 862 871 70 65 7.5 6.9 6.2 – 7.6 

Utah .................................. 1,993 2,028 1,347 1,354 1,254 1,276 93 77 6.9 5.7 5.2 – 6.2 

Wyoming .......................... 438 445 303 306 285 290 18 16 6.1 5.4 4.9 – 5.9 

Pacific .................................. 38,941 39,430 24,885 24,957 22,137 22,504 2,748 2,453 11.0 9.8 9.6 – 10.1 

Alaska ............................... 529 537 366 366 338 341 28 26 7.6 7.0 6.3 – 7.7 

California .......................... 28,979 29,348 18,404 18,495 16,237 16,560 2,167 1,935 11.8 10.5 10.1 – 10.8 

Hawaii ............................... 1,055 1,066 658 652 615 614 43 38 6.5 5.8 5.3 – 6.3 

Oregon .............................. 3,065 3,097 1,975 1,963 1,785 1,792 190 171 9.6 8.7 8.1 – 9.3 

Washington ...................... 5,312 5,382 3,482 3,481 3,162 3,197 320 284 9.2 8.2 7.6 – 8.8 

Puerto Rico ............................ 2,921 2,915 1,229 1,214 1,033 1,038 196 176 16.0 14.5 NA

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 

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

2011–12 annual averages

(Percent)

Employment-population ratio 1

2011 2012

United States ................................................................ 58.4 58.6 0.2 58.4 – 58.8 

Northeast ......................................................................... 58.7 58.7 .0 58.3 – 59.2 

New England ................................................................ 61.5 61.3 -.2 60.6 – 62.0 

Connecticut ................................................................ 61.3 60.6 -.7 59.5 – 61.8 

Maine ......................................................................... 60.2 60.5 .3 59.2 – 61.7 

Massachusetts .......................................................... 60.8 60.8 .0 59.7 – 61.9 

New Hampshire ......................................................... 65.8 65.7 -.1 64.7 – 66.7 

Rhode Island ............................................................. 59.3 59.4 .1 58.3 – 60.6 

Vermont ..................................................................... 66.3 66.2 -.1 65.0 – 67.3 

Middle Atlantic .............................................................. 57.7 57.8 .1 57.3 – 58.4 

New Jersey ................................................................ 59.5 59.7 .2 58.7 – 60.6 

New York ................................................................... 56.5 56.4 -.1 55.7 – 57.0 

Pennsylvania ............................................................. 58.2 58.8 .6 58.0 – 59.6 

Midwest ........................................................................... 60.3 60.5 .2 60.1 – 60.9 

East North Central ....................................................... 58.5 58.7 .2 58.2 – 59.2 

Illinois ......................................................................... 59.8 60.2 .4 59.2 – 61.1 

Indiana ....................................................................... 57.5 57.4 -.1 56.0 – 58.8 

Michigan .................................................................... 54.1 54.4 .3 53.4 – 55.3 

Ohio ........................................................................... 59.0 59.1 .1 58.3 – 60.0 

Wisconsin .................................................................. 63.5 63.3 -.2 62.0 – 64.6 

West North Central ...................................................... 64.5 64.5 .0 63.9 – 65.1 

Iowa ........................................................................... 65.7 65.0 -.7 63.9 – 66.1 

Kansas ....................................................................... 64.8 64.5 -.3 63.3 – 65.6 

Minnesota .................................................................. 66.9 66.9 .0 65.8 – 68.1 

Missouri ..................................................................... 59.5 59.7 .2 58.3 – 61.0 

Nebraska ................................................................... 68.6 69.4 .8 68.3 – 70.5 

North Dakota ............................................................. 69.1 69.7 .6 68.3 – 71.1 

South Dakota ............................................................. 67.7 67.3 -.4 66.1 – 68.5 

South ............................................................................... 57.6 57.9 .3 57.6 – 58.2 

South Atlantic ............................................................... 57.3 57.7 .4 57.2 – 58.1 

Delaware .................................................................... 57.3 57.3 .0 56.2 – 58.4 

District of Columbia ................................................... 60.8 62.9 2.1 61.7 – 64.0 

Florida ........................................................................ 54.6 55.4 .8 54.5 – 56.3 

Georgia ...................................................................... 58.2 58.4 .2 57.4 – 59.5 

Maryland 63 0 63 2 2 62 4 64 1

Region, division, and state Error range of ratio, 

2012 2

Over-the-year 

change

Maryland .................................................................... 63.0 63.2 .2 62.4 – 64.1 

North Carolina ........................................................... 56.5 57.1 .6 56.1 – 58.1 

South Carolina ........................................................... 53.7 53.9 .2 52.6 – 55.1 

Virginia ....................................................................... 62.9 62.7 -.2 61.5 – 63.9 

West Virginia ............................................................. 49.8 50.2 .4 48.5 – 51.8 

East South Central ....................................................... 55.2 55.4 .2 54.6 – 56.2 

Alabama .................................................................... 53.4 53.3 -.1 51.6 – 55.0 

Kentucky .................................................................... 55.7 56.3 .6 55.0 – 57.6 

Mississippi ................................................................. 53.4 53.7 .3 52.2 – 55.2 

Tennessee ................................................................. 56.9 57.0 .1 55.8 – 58.3 

West South Central ...................................................... 59.3 59.6 .3 59.0 – 60.2 

Arkansas .................................................................... 55.6 55.5 -.1 54.3 – 56.7 

Louisiana ................................................................... 55.2 55.7 .5 54.1 – 57.3 

Oklahoma .................................................................. 58.6 59.1 .5 57.8 – 60.4 

Texas ......................................................................... 60.6 60.8 .2 60.1 – 61.5 

West ................................................................................ 57.6 57.7 .1 57.4 – 58.1 

Mountain ....................................................................... 59.3 59.2 -.1 58.6 – 59.8 

Arizona ....................................................................... 56.1 55.6 -.5 54.0 – 57.2 

Colorado .................................................................... 63.5 63.2 -.3 61.8 – 64.7 

Idaho .......................................................................... 59.5 60.2 .7 58.8 – 61.6 

Montana ..................................................................... 59.3 60.2 .9 58.6 – 61.7 

Nevada ...................................................................... 57.6 57.6 .0 56.4 – 58.7 

New Mexico ............................................................... 54.5 54.8 .3 53.7 – 55.9 

Utah ........................................................................... 62.9 62.9 .0 61.4 – 64.5 

Wyoming .................................................................... 65.1 65.1 .0 63.8 – 66.4 

Pacific ........................................................................... 56.8 57.1 .3 56.7 – 57.5 

Alaska ........................................................................ 63.8 63.5 -.3 61.8 – 65.2 

California .................................................................... 56.0 56.4 .4 56.0 – 56.9 

Hawaii ........................................................................ 58.3 57.6 -.7 56.3 – 58.8 

Oregon ....................................................................... 58.3 57.8 -.5 56.8 – 58.9 

Washington ............................................................... 59.5 59.4 -.1 58.4 – 60.4 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................... 35.4 35.6 .2 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 reestimation. Data for 

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

Current Population Survey.
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Chart 1. Over-the-year change in unemployment ra2012 annual averages

(U.S. change = -0.8 percentage point)

2012 annual averages
Chart 2. Unemployment rates by state, 2012 annua

West

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(U.S. rate = 8.1 percent)

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Chart 3. Employment-population ratios by state, 

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(U.S. ratio= 58.6 percent)

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