For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 25, 2011 USDL-11-0239 

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

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

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2010 ANNUAL AVERAGES

Annual average unemployment rates in 2010 rose in 31 states and the District of Columbia, declined in 

18 states, and remained the same in 1 state, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

Employment-population ratios decreased in 43 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 3 states, 

and were unchanged in 4 states. Jobless rates increased in three regions and decreased in one, and 

employment-population ratios declined in all four regions in 2010. The U.S. jobless rate rose by 0.3 

percentage point from the prior year to 9.6 percent, while the national employment-population ratio fell 

by 0.8 point to 58.5 percent. 

Regional Unemployment 

Three of the 4 regions posted statistically significant unemployment rate changes from 2009, all of 

which were increases. The West experienced the largest rise (+0.9 percentage point), followed by the 

South (+0.4 point) and Northeast (+0.3 point). The West, at 11.1 percent, also registered the only jobless 

rate significantly above that of the U.S., 9.6 percent in 2010. The Northeast and South, at 8.7 and 9.3 

percent, respectively, both had rates significantly below the national figure. The rates in the West and 

South set new annual series highs in 2010. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.) (See 

table 1.) 

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

increases in 2010: the Mountain (+0.9 percentage point), Pacific (+0.8 point), West South Central (+0.7 

point), South Atlantic (+0.5 point), and Middle Atlantic (+0.4 point). The four remaining divisions 

registered jobless rates that were not significantly different from those of a year earlier. The Pacific 

division posted the highest unemployment rate, 11.7 percent. The divisions with the next highest rates 

were the East North Central, 10.4 percent, and the East South Central, 10.0 percent. The rates for the 

Pacific and East North Central divisions were significantly above the U.S. rate, as was the rate in the 

South Atlantic, 9.9 percent. The rates in the Pacific and South Atlantic set new series highs, as did the 

9.7 percent rate in the Mountain division. The division with the lowest unemployment rate was the West 

North Central, 7.3 percent. Three other divisions—the Middle Atlantic, New England, and West South 

Central—also recorded rates significantly lower than the U.S. rate. 

 

State Unemployment 

Twenty-two states reported statistically significant unemployment rate changes from 2009 to 2010, 18 of 

which were increases and 4 of which were decreases. Of those increases, six were greater than 1.0 

percentage point: Nevada (+2.4 points), Idaho (+1.6 points), New Mexico and West Virginia (+1.4 
- 2 - 

points each), Florida (+1.3 points), and California (+1.1 points). Michigan and Minnesota recorded the 

largest rate declines over the year (-0.8 percentage point each), closely followed by Tennessee and 

Vermont (-0.7 point each); all four changes were significant. Twenty-eight states and the District of 

Columbia reported annual average unemployment rates for 2010 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 statistically significant changes. (See table A and chart 1.) 

In 2010, 15 states reported unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more. Nevada recorded the highest 

rate, 14.9 percent, followed by Michigan, 12.5 percent, and California, 12.4 percent. (This was the first 

time since 2005 that Michigan did not post the highest unemployment rate among the states.) North 

Dakota again registered the lowest jobless rate among the states, 3.9 percent in 2010. The states with the 

next lowest rates were Nebraska and South Dakota, at 4.7 and 4.8 percent, respectively. Twenty-seven 

states had unemployment rates that were significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 9.6 percent, and 10 

states recorded rates significantly above it. Eight states reported the highest jobless rates in their annual 

series: California, 12.4 percent; Colorado, 8.9 percent; Delaware, 8.5 percent; Florida, 11.5 percent; 

Georgia, 10.2 percent; Idaho, 9.3 percent; Nevada, 14.9 percent; and Rhode Island, 11.6 percent. (See 

table B and chart 2.) 

Regional Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2010 all four regions registered statistically significant deterioration in their employment-population 

ratios—the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over with a job. 

The West experienced the largest over-the-year decrease in its employment-population ratio (-1.4 

percentage points), followed by the South (-0.8 point), Northeast (-0.7 point), and Midwest (-0.4 point). 

The Midwest continued to report the highest ratio, 60.3 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 58.5 percent, and the Midwest recorded a significantly higher ratio. 

(See table 2.) 

Six of the 9 divisions registered statistically significant changes in their employment-population ratios in 

2010, all of which were decreases. The Mountain experienced the greatest drop (-1.5 percentage points), 

followed by the Pacific and South Atlantic (-1.3 and -1.2 points, respectively). In 2010 the East South 

Central again recorded the lowest proportion of employed persons, 54.7 percent. The next lowest ratios 

were posted in the Pacific, 57.2 percent, and South Atlantic, 57.3 percent. Ratios in all three of these 

divisions were significantly below the national average. The divisions with the highest employmentpopulation ratios were the West North Central, 64.4 percent, and New England, 61.7 percent. These two 

divisions, along with the Mountain, 59.5 percent, and West South Central, 59.4 percent, registered 

employment-population ratios measurably above that of the U.S. The remaining two divisions had ratios 

that were not significantly different from the national average. 

State Employment-Population Ratios 

In 2010, 32 states and the District of Columbia registered statistically significant decreases in their 

proportions of employed persons, while 18 states had proportions that were not significantly different 

from those of a year earlier. Four states reported declines of 2.0 percentage points or more: Colorado 

 (-2.4 points), Utah (-2.3 points), Nevada (-2.2 points), and Delaware (-2.1 points). Twelve other states 

and the District of Columbia recorded decreases in their employment-population ratios ranging from 

 -1.0 to -1.9 percentage points. (See table C.) 
- 3 - 

West Virginia again reported the lowest employment-population ratio among the states, 48.8 percent, 

which it has done for 35 consecutive years. Three states in the West North Central division again posted 

the highest ratios: North Dakota, 69.8 percent, Nebraska, 67.7 percent, and South Dakota, 67.6 percent. 

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia recorded employment-population ratios that were 

significantly above the U.S. ratio of 58.5 percent, and 18 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. 

The remaining nine states reported ratios that were not measurably different from that of the nation. 

Nine states registered the lowest employment-population ratios in their series in 2010: California, 56.3 

percent; Colorado, 62.8 percent; Delaware, 56.2 percent; Georgia, 57.0 percent; Hawaii, 59.4 percent; 

Kentucky, 55.6 percent; Nevada, 57.0 percent; North Carolina, 56.1 percent; and South Carolina, 54.5 

percent. (See table D and chart 3.) 

_________________ 

The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2011 is 

scheduled to be released on Thursday, March 10, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. (EST). The Metropolitan 

Area Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2011 is scheduled to be released 

on Friday, March 18, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). 

 
- 4 - 

 

Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2009–10

annual averages

2009 2010

California ................................. 11.3 12.4 1.1

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

Connecticut ............................. 8.3 9.1 .8

Delaware ................................. 8.0 8.5 .5

Florida ..................................... 10.2 11.5 1.3

Georgia ................................... 9.7 10.2 .5

Idaho ....................................... 7.7 9.3 1.6

Iowa ........................................ 5.6 6.1 .5

Louisiana ................................. 6.6 7.5 .9

Maryland ................................. 7.1 7.5 .4

Michigan .................................. 13.3 12.5 -.8

Minnesota ................................ 8.1 7.3 -.8

Montana .................................. 6.3 7.2 .9

Nevada .................................... 12.5 14.9 2.4

New Mexico ............................. 7.0 8.4 1.4

Pennsylvania ............................ 8.0 8.7 .7

Rhode Island ............................ 10.8 11.6 .8

Tennessee ............................... 10.4 9.7 -.7

Texas ...................................... 7.6 8.2 .6

Utah ........................................ 7.1 7.7 .6

Vermont .................................. 6.9 6.2 -.7

West Virginia ........................... 7.7 9.1 1.4

Rate

State Over-the-year rate 

change 
- 5 - 

 

State Rate 

United States ................................................... 9.6

Alaska ............................................................ 8.0

Arkansas ......................................................... 7.9

California ......................................................... 12.4

Colorado .......................................................... 8.9

Delaware ......................................................... 8.5

Florida ............................................................. 11.5

Hawaii ............................................................. 6.6

Illinois ............................................................. 10.3

Iowa ................................................................ 6.1

Kansas ........................................................... 7.0

Kentucky ......................................................... 10.5

Louisiana ......................................................... 7.5

Maine .............................................................. 7.9

Maryland ......................................................... 7.5

Massachusetts ................................................ 8.5

Michigan ......................................................... 12.5

Minnesota ....................................................... 7.3

Montana .......................................................... 7.2

Nebraska ......................................................... 4.7

Nevada ............................................................ 14.9

New Hampshire ................................................ 6.1

New Mexico ..................................................... 8.4

New York ........................................................ 8.6

North Carolina .................................................. 10.6

North Dakota ................................................... 3.9

Oklahoma ........................................................ 7.1

Oregon ............................................................ 10.8

Pennsylvania ................................................... 8.7

Rhode Island .................................................... 11.6

South Carolina ................................................. 11.2

South Dakota ................................................... 4.8

Texas .............................................................. 8.2

Utah ................................................................ 7.7

Vermont .......................................................... 6.2

Virginia ............................................................ 6.9

Wisconsin ....................................................... 8.3

Wyoming ......................................................... 7.0

of the U.S., 2010 annual averages

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

 

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

2009–10 annual averages

2009 2010

Alabama .................................. 54.1 52.8 -1.3

Arizona .................................... 57.6 56.9 -.7

California ................................. 57.8 56.3 -1.5

Colorado .................................. 65.2 62.8 -2.4

Connecticut ............................. 63.0 62.3 -.7

Delaware ................................. 58.3 56.2 -2.1

District of Columbia .................. 61.7 60.6 -1.1

Florida ..................................... 56.3 55.4 -.9

Georgia ................................... 58.9 57.0 -1.9

Idaho ....................................... 60.3 59.1 -1.2

Indiana .................................... 58.1 57.2 -.9

Kansas .................................... 65.8 65.1 -.7

Maryland ................................. 63.4 62.1 -1.3

Missouri .................................. 60.0 58.7 -1.3

Montana .................................. 60.6 59.7 -.9

Nebraska ................................. 68.5 67.7 -.8

Nevada .................................... 59.2 57.0 -2.2

New Jersey .............................. 60.8 59.8 -1.0

New Mexico ............................. 57.8 56.9 -.9

New York ................................. 57.7 57.1 -.6

North Carolina .......................... 57.1 56.1 -1.0

Ohio ........................................ 59.6 59.1 -.5

Oklahoma ................................ 59.0 58.2 -.8

Pennsylvania ............................ 59.1 58.0 -1.1

South Carolina ......................... 55.2 54.5 -.7

South Dakota ........................... 68.3 67.6 -.7

Texas ...................................... 60.8 60.5 -.3

Utah ........................................ 65.2 62.9 -2.3

Virginia .................................... 64.9 64.1 -.8

Washington ............................. 62.0 60.8 -1.2

West Virginia ........................... 50.6 48.8 -1.8

Wisconsin ............................... 64.1 63.2 -.9

Wyoming ................................. 66.4 64.8 -1.6

State

Ratio Over-the-year ratio 

change 
- 7 - 

State Ratio 

United States ................................................... 58.5

Alabama .......................................................... 52.8

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

Arizona ........................................................... 56.9

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

California ......................................................... 56.3

Colorado .......................................................... 62.8

Connecticut ..................................................... 62.3

Delaware ......................................................... 56.2

District of Columbia .......................................... 60.6

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

Georgia ........................................................... 57.0

Illinois ............................................................. 60.0

Iowa ................................................................ 66.8

Kansas ........................................................... 65.1

Kentucky ......................................................... 55.6

Louisiana ......................................................... 56.3

Maine .............................................................. 60.2

Maryland ......................................................... 62.1

Massachusetts ................................................ 60.5

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

Minnesota ....................................................... 66.8

Mississippi ...................................................... 53.2

Nebraska ......................................................... 67.7

Nevada ............................................................ 57.0

New Hampshire ................................................ 65.8

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

New Mexico ..................................................... 56.9

New York ........................................................ 57.1

North Carolina .................................................. 56.1

North Dakota ................................................... 69.8

Rhode Island .................................................... 60.2

South Carolina ................................................. 54.5

South Dakota ................................................... 67.6

Tennessee ....................................................... 56.2

Texas .............................................................. 60.5

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

Vermont .......................................................... 66.3

Virginia ............................................................ 64.1

Washington ..................................................... 60.8

West Virginia ................................................... 48.8

Wisconsin ....................................................... 63.2

Wyoming ......................................................... 64.8

from that of the U.S., 2010 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 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 reflect updated population data 

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

sources, and model reestimation. 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 only 5 

years, the population estimates—and, thus, employmentpopulation ratios—are adjusted back to the decennial 

estimates base, currently April 2000. 

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 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 0.5 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,

2009-10 annual averages

(Numbers in thousands)

Population Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Unemployment rate

2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010

United States ....................... 235,801 237,830 154,142 153,889 139,877 139,064 14,265 14,825 9.3 9.6 9.5 - 9.7 

Northeast ............................... 43,515 43,762 28,321 28,243 25,950 25,784 2,370 2,459 8.4 8.7 8.5 - 8.9 

New England ....................... 11,455 11,532 7,733 7,770 7,100 7,109 633 660 8.2 8.5 8.2 - 8.8 

Connecticut ...................... 2,747 2,765 1,887 1,897 1,730 1,724 157 173 8.3 9.1 8.6 - 9.7 

Maine ................................ 1,065 1,066 698 697 641 642 57 55 8.2 7.9 7.4 - 8.5 

Massachusetts ................. 5,237 5,282 3,477 3,494 3,190 3,197 286 297 8.2 8.5 7.9 - 9.1 

New Hampshire ................ 1,057 1,063 745 744 698 699 47 45 6.3 6.1 5.7 - 6.4 

Rhode Island .................... 842 845 566 576 505 509 61 67 10.8 11.6 10.9 - 12.3 

Vermont ............................ 507 510 360 361 335 338 25 22 6.9 6.2 5.8 - 6.7 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 32,060 32,230 20,587 20,473 18,850 18,675 1,737 1,799 8.4 8.8 8.5 - 9.1 

New Jersey ....................... 6,766 6,812 4,527 4,502 4,116 4,077 410 426 9.1 9.5 8.9 - 10.0 

New York .......................... 15,354 15,431 9,678 9,631 8,864 8,807 813 824 8.4 8.6 8.2 - 8.9 

Pennsylvania .................... 9,939 9,987 6,383 6,340 5,870 5,791 514 549 8.0 8.7 8.2 - 9.1 

Midwest .................................. 51,568 51,830 34,637 34,480 31,317 31,237 3,319 3,243 9.6 9.4 9.2 - 9.6 

East North Central .............. 35,927 36,072 23,667 23,538 21,155 21,091 2,513 2,448 10.6 10.4 10.1 - 10.7 

Illinois ................................ 9,877 9,936 6,588 6,646 5,928 5,965 660 681 10.0 10.3 9.7 - 10.8 

Indiana .............................. 4,907 4,939 3,184 3,142 2,852 2,823 332 320 10.4 10.2 9.4 - 10.9 

Michigan ........................... 7,772 7,780 4,859 4,790 4,211 4,193 648 597 13.3 12.5 11.8 - 13.1 

Ohio .................................. 8,954 8,976 5,936 5,898 5,335 5,303 601 595 10.1 10.1 9.5 - 10.7 

Wisconsin ......................... 4,417 4,440 3,101 3,063 2,829 2,807 271 255 8.7 8.3 7.8 - 8.9 

West North Central ............. 15,640 15,759 10,969 10,942 10,163 10,146 806 796 7.4 7.3 7.0 - 7.5 

Iowa .................................. 2,334 2,348 1,665 1,671 1,572 1,568 94 103 5.6 6.1 5.7 - 6.6 

Kansas .............................. 2,129 2,146 1,508 1,502 1,402 1,397 107 106 7.1 7.0 6.5 - 7.6 

Minnesota ......................... 4,083 4,112 2,951 2,963 2,712 2,746 238 217 8.1 7.3 6.9 - 7.8 

Missouri ............................ 4,610 4,642 3,051 3,014 2,768 2,726 283 289 9.3 9.6 8.8 - 10.3 

Nebraska .......................... 1,363 1,375 981 977 934 931 47 45 4.8 4.7 4.2 - 5.1 

North Dakota .................... 504 510 369 370 353 356 16 15 4.3 3.9 3.5 - 4.4 

South Dakota ................... 618 625 444 444 422 423 22 21 5.0 4.8 4.5 - 5.2 

South ...................................... 85,998 87,017 55,051 55,210 50,166 50,060 4,885 5,150 8.9 9.3 9.2 - 9.5 

South Atlantic ...................... 45,522 46,029 29,378 29,303 26,621 26,388 2,758 2,915 9.4 9.9 9.7 - 10.2 

Delaware .......................... 686 693 435 426 400 390 35 36 8.0 8.5 7.9 - 9.1 

District of Columbia .......... 486 496 332 334 300 301 32 33 9.6 9.9 9.2 - 10.6 

Florida ............................... 14,589 14,736 9,139 9,224 8,209 8,159 930 1,065 10.2 11.5 11.1 - 12.0 

Georgia ............................. 7,301 7,396 4,766 4,694 4,302 4,214 464 480 9.7 10.2 9.6 - 10.8 

Maryland 4 397 4 443 3 001 2 981 2 786 2 758 215 223 7 1 7 5 7 1 7 9

Region, division, and state Error range of rate, 

2010 1

Maryland ........................... 4,397 4,443 3,001 2,981 2,786 2,758 215 223 7.1 7.5 7.1 - 7.9 

North Carolina .................. 7,118 7,200 4,555 4,513 4,065 4,036 490 476 10.8 10.6 10.0 - 11.1 

South Carolina ................. 3,490 3,530 2,175 2,165 1,928 1,923 247 242 11.3 11.2 10.4 - 12.0 

Virginia .............................. 6,001 6,077 4,180 4,185 3,895 3,896 284 289 6.8 6.9 6.4 - 7.4 

West Virginia .................... 1,453 1,458 797 782 735 711 62 71 7.7 9.1 8.2 - 10.0 

East South Central .............. 14,019 14,125 8,597 8,581 7,722 7,727 875 855 10.2 10.0 9.5 - 10.4 

Alabama ........................... 3,621 3,646 2,171 2,127 1,960 1,925 211 202 9.7 9.5 8.3 - 10.7 

Kentucky ........................... 3,329 3,354 2,079 2,084 1,858 1,866 222 218 10.7 10.5 9.7 - 11.3 

Mississippi ........................ 2,200 2,211 1,296 1,313 1,171 1,176 125 137 9.6 10.4 9.5 - 11.4 

Tennessee ........................ 4,868 4,913 3,052 3,057 2,734 2,759 317 297 10.4 9.7 9.0 - 10.4 

West South Central ............ 26,458 26,863 17,076 17,326 15,823 15,946 1,253 1,380 7.3 8.0 7.7 - 8.3 

Arkansas .......................... 2,204 2,221 1,356 1,353 1,256 1,247 100 107 7.4 7.9 7.1 - 8.6 

Louisiana .......................... 3,389 3,420 2,060 2,082 1,924 1,926 136 155 6.6 7.5 6.6 - 8.3 

Oklahoma ......................... 2,774 2,802 1,753 1,755 1,637 1,631 116 124 6.6 7.1 6.5 - 7.7 

Texas ................................ 18,091 18,419 11,907 12,136 11,006 11,142 900 994 7.6 8.2 7.8 - 8.6 

West ....................................... 54,236 54,927 35,817 35,767 32,161 31,812 3,656 3,955 10.2 11.1 10.8 - 11.3 

Mountain .............................. 16,613 16,841 11,108 11,084 10,135 10,014 973 1,070 8.8 9.7 9.3 - 10.0 

Arizona ............................. 4,951 5,027 3,157 3,176 2,851 2,860 306 316 9.7 10.0 9.2 - 10.7 

Colorado ........................... 3,838 3,899 2,728 2,687 2,502 2,448 226 240 8.3 8.9 8.4 - 9.5 

Idaho ................................. 1,150 1,163 751 758 693 687 58 71 7.7 9.3 8.5 - 10.2 

Montana ............................ 767 773 496 497 465 461 31 36 6.3 7.2 6.5 - 8.0 

Nevada ............................. 2,000 2,015 1,354 1,350 1,184 1,150 170 201 12.5 14.9 14.0 - 15.7 

New Mexico ...................... 1,516 1,535 942 953 876 873 66 80 7.0 8.4 7.6 - 9.2 

Utah .................................. 1,972 2,007 1,383 1,368 1,285 1,262 98 106 7.1 7.7 7.1 - 8.3 

Wyoming .......................... 418 422 297 294 278 273 19 20 6.5 7.0 6.4 - 7.5 

Pacific .................................. 37,622 38,086 24,709 24,683 22,026 21,798 2,683 2,885 10.9 11.7 11.4 - 12.0 

Alaska ............................... 512 518 359 361 331 332 28 29 7.8 8.0 7.2 - 8.8 

California .......................... 27,947 28,293 18,204 18,176 16,142 15,916 2,063 2,260 11.3 12.4 12.1 - 12.8 

Hawaii ............................... 982 989 632 629 589 587 43 42 6.8 6.6 6.0 - 7.2 

Oregon .............................. 3,008 3,039 1,980 1,985 1,760 1,770 221 215 11.1 10.8 10.2 - 11.5 

Washington ...................... 5,174 5,247 3,534 3,532 3,206 3,192 329 340 9.3 9.6 9.0 - 10.2 

Puerto Rico ............................ 3,070 3,100 1,326 1,297 1,127 1,089 199 209 15.0 16.1 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,

2009-10 annual averages

(Percent)

Employment-population ratio 1

2009 2010

United States ................................................................ 59.3 58.5 -0.8 58.3 - 58.7 

Northeast ......................................................................... 59.6 58.9 -.7 58.5 - 59.4 

New England ................................................................ 62.0 61.7 -.3 60.9 - 62.4 

Connecticut ................................................................ 63.0 62.3 -.7 61.2 - 63.5 

Maine ......................................................................... 60.2 60.2 .0 59.0 - 61.4 

Massachusetts .......................................................... 60.9 60.5 -.4 59.4 - 61.6 

New Hampshire ......................................................... 66.0 65.8 -.2 64.8 - 66.8 

Rhode Island ............................................................. 60.0 60.2 .2 59.1 - 61.4 

Vermont ..................................................................... 66.1 66.3 .2 65.2 - 67.5 

Middle Atlantic .............................................................. 58.8 57.9 -.9 57.4 - 58.5 

New Jersey ................................................................ 60.8 59.8 -1.0 58.9 - 60.8 

New York ................................................................... 57.7 57.1 -.6 56.4 - 57.7 

Pennsylvania ............................................................. 59.1 58.0 -1.1 57.2 - 58.8 

Midwest ........................................................................... 60.7 60.3 -.4 59.9 - 60.7 

East North Central ....................................................... 58.9 58.5 -.4 58.0 - 59.0 

Illinois ......................................................................... 60.0 60.0 .0 59.1 - 61.0 

Indiana ....................................................................... 58.1 57.2 -.9 55.7 - 58.6 

Michigan .................................................................... 54.2 53.9 -.3 52.9 - 54.9 

Ohio ........................................................................... 59.6 59.1 -.5 58.2 - 59.9 

Wisconsin .................................................................. 64.1 63.2 -.9 61.9 - 64.6 

West North Central ...................................................... 65.0 64.4 -.6 63.8 - 65.0 

Iowa ........................................................................... 67.4 66.8 -.6 65.7 - 67.9 

Kansas ....................................................................... 65.8 65.1 -.7 63.9 - 66.2 

Minnesota .................................................................. 66.4 66.8 .4 65.6 - 67.9 

Missouri ..................................................................... 60.0 58.7 -1.3 57.4 - 60.1 

Nebraska ................................................................... 68.5 67.7 -.8 66.6 - 68.8 

North Dakota ............................................................. 70.1 69.8 -.3 68.1 - 71.4 

South Dakota ............................................................. 68.3 67.6 -.7 66.4 - 68.8 

South ............................................................................... 58.3 57.5 -.8 57.2 - 57.9 

South Atlantic ............................................................... 58.5 57.3 -1.2 56.9 - 57.8 

Delaware .................................................................... 58.3 56.2 -2.1 55.1 - 57.3 

District of Columbia ................................................... 61.7 60.6 -1.1 59.4 - 61.8 

Florida ........................................................................ 56.3 55.4 -.9 54.5 - 56.3 

Georgia ...................................................................... 58.9 57.0 -1.9 56.0 - 57.9 

Maryland 63 4 62 1 1 3 61 2 63 0

Region, division, and state Error range of ratio, 

2010 2

Over-the-year 

change

Maryland .................................................................... 63.4 62.1 -1.3 61.2 - 63.0 

North Carolina ........................................................... 57.1 56.1 -1.0 55.0 - 57.1 

South Carolina ........................................................... 55.2 54.5 -.7 53.5 - 55.5 

Virginia ....................................................................... 64.9 64.1 -.8 63.3 - 65.0 

West Virginia ............................................................. 50.6 48.8 -1.8 47.1 - 50.4 

East South Central ....................................................... 55.1 54.7 -.4 53.9 - 55.5 

Alabama .................................................................... 54.1 52.8 -1.3 51.1 - 54.5 

Kentucky .................................................................... 55.8 55.6 -.2 54.3 - 56.9 

Mississippi ................................................................. 53.2 53.2 .0 51.7 - 54.7 

Tennessee ................................................................. 56.2 56.2 .0 55.0 - 57.3 

West South Central ...................................................... 59.8 59.4 -.4 58.8 - 60.0 

Arkansas .................................................................... 57.0 56.1 -.9 54.9 - 57.3 

Louisiana ................................................................... 56.8 56.3 -.5 54.7 - 57.9 

Oklahoma .................................................................. 59.0 58.2 -.8 56.9 - 59.5 

Texas ......................................................................... 60.8 60.5 -.3 59.8 - 61.2 

West ................................................................................ 59.3 57.9 -1.4 57.6 - 58.3 

Mountain ....................................................................... 61.0 59.5 -1.5 58.8 - 60.1 

Arizona ....................................................................... 57.6 56.9 -.7 55.4 - 58.4 

Colorado .................................................................... 65.2 62.8 -2.4 61.3 - 64.3 

Idaho .......................................................................... 60.3 59.1 -1.2 57.7 - 60.5 

Montana ..................................................................... 60.6 59.7 -.9 58.3 - 61.1 

Nevada ...................................................................... 59.2 57.0 -2.2 55.9 - 58.2 

New Mexico ............................................................... 57.8 56.9 -.9 55.8 - 57.9 

Utah ........................................................................... 65.2 62.9 -2.3 61.3 - 64.4 

Wyoming .................................................................... 66.4 64.8 -1.6 63.5 - 66.1 

Pacific ........................................................................... 58.5 57.2 -1.3 56.8 - 57.7 

Alaska ........................................................................ 64.6 64.2 -.4 62.4 - 65.9 

California .................................................................... 57.8 56.3 -1.5 55.8 - 56.7 

Hawaii ........................................................................ 60.0 59.4 -.6 58.1 - 60.7 

Oregon ....................................................................... 58.5 58.2 -.3 57.2 - 59.2 

Washington ............................................................... 62.0 60.8 -1.2 59.8 - 61.8 

Puerto Rico ..................................................................... 36.7 35.1 -1.6 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.
Chart 1. Over-the-year change in unemploym

2010 annual averages

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ALASKA HAWAII
Chart 2. Unemployment rates by state, 2010 a

WASH.

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West

North Central

East

N th C t l

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(U.S. rate = 9.6 percent)

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ALASKA HAWAII
Chart 3. Employment-population ratios by sta

2010 annual averages

Mountain

West

North Central

East N

2010 annual averages

(U.S. average = 58.5 percent)

MONT.

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ALASKA HAWAII