For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, March 4, 2020 USDL-20-0377 Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT -- 2019 ANNUAL AVERAGES In 2019, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 10 states, increased in 1 state, and were little changed in 39 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios increased in 16 states, decreased in 2 states, and were little changed in 32 states and the District. The U.S. jobless rate declined by 0.2 percentage point from the prior year to 3.7 percent, and the national employment-population ratio rose by 0.4 point to 60.8 percent. Regional Unemployment Three of the 4 census regions had unemployment rate decreases from 2018: the Northeast and South (-0.3 percentage point each) and West (-0.2 point). The South had the lowest jobless rate among the regions, 3.5 percent in 2019, while the West had the highest rate, 3.9 percent. No other region had a rate significantly different from that of the United States. In 2019, three regions recorded new series-low unemployment rates: the Northeast (3.7 percent), South (3.5 percent), and West (3.9 percent). All region, division, and state series begin in 1976. (See table 1.) Five of the 9 geographic divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate changes in 2019, all of which were decreases. These declines occurred in New England and the South Atlantic (-0.4 percentage point each) and the Mountain, Pacific, and West South Central (-0.3 point each). The lowest jobless rates among the divisions were in New England and the West North Central, 3.1 percent each, followed by the South Atlantic, 3.3 percent. The highest rates were in the Middle Atlantic and Pacific, 4.0 percent each. The remaining four divisions had rates that were not significantly different from that of the United States. Five divisions recorded new series-low unemployment rates in 2019: the East South Central (3.8 percent), Middle Atlantic (4.0 percent), Pacific (4.0 percent), South Atlantic (3.3 percent), and West South Central (3.6 percent). State Unemployment Ten states had significant unemployment rate decreases in 2019, the largest of which occurred in Alabama (-0.9 percentage point) and South Carolina (-0.7 point). Mississippi had the only over-the-year rate increase (+0.6 percentage point). The remaining 39 states and the District of Columbia had annual average jobless rates in 2019 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.) North Dakota and Vermont had the lowest unemployment rates in 2019, 2.4 percent each. Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.1 percent. Overall, 17 states had unemployment rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 3.7 percent, 11 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 22 states had rates that were not substantially different from that of the nation. Eighteen states newly recorded the lowest annual average unemployment rates in their respective series in 2019: Alabama (3.0 percent), Alaska (6.1 percent), Arkansas (3.5 percent), California (4.0 percent), Florida (3.1 percent), Georgia (3.4 percent), Illinois (4.0 percent), Maine (3.0 percent), Nevada (3.9 percent), New Jersey (3.6 percent), New York (4.0 percent), North Dakota (2.4 percent), Oregon (3.7 percent), South Carolina (2.8 percent), Tennessee (3.4 percent), Texas (3.5 percent), Vermont (2.4 percent), and Washington (4.3 percent). (See table B.) Regional Employment-Population Ratios In 2019, three census regions had significant changes in their employment-population ratio-- the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over who are employed--all of which were increases. These increases occurred in the Northeast (+0.5 percentage point) and South and West (+0.4 point each). The Midwest had the highest ratio, 62.7 percent, while the South, at 59.6 percent, had the lowest. These two regions had the only ratios that were notably different from the national figure of 60.8 percent. (See table 2.) Four of the 9 geographic divisions had increases in their employment-population ratios from 2018 to 2019: the East South Central (+0.7 percentage point), Mountain (+0.6 point), Middle Atlantic (+0.5 point), and South Atlantic (+0.4 point). The remaining five divisions had little or no change in their ratios over the year. The division with the highest employment- population ratio in 2019 was the West North Central, 65.8 percent, followed by New England, 64.7 percent. These two divisions, along with the Mountain and East North Central, at 62.3 percent and 61.3 percent, respectively, had employment-population ratios significantly above that of the United States. The East South Central had the lowest proportion of employed persons, 57.2 percent. The Middle Atlantic, at 59.6 percent, South Atlantic, at 59.8 percent, and Pacific, at 60.2 percent, also had ratios appreciably below the national average of 60.8 percent. State Employment-Population Ratios In 2019, the largest employment-population ratio increase among the states occurred in Iowa (+1.5 percentage points), followed by West Virginia (+1.2 points) and New Jersey and Tennessee (+1.1 points each). Twelve other states also had significant increases in their ratios. Hawaii and Wisconsin were the only states with over-the-year decreases in their employment-population ratios (-0.9 percentage point and -0.8 point, respectively). The remaining 32 states and the District of Columbia had ratios that were not notably different from those of the previous year, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table C.) Iowa had the highest proportion of employed persons in 2019, 68.5 percent, followed by Minnesota, 68.0 percent. West Virginia and Mississippi had the lowest employment-population ratios among the states, 52.4 percent and 52.8 percent, respectively. Overall, 22 states and the District of Columbia had employment-population ratios significantly higher than the U.S. ratio of 60.8 percent and 17 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. Alaska had the lowest employment-population ratio in its series (59.9 percent). (See table D.) _____________ The State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2020 is scheduled to be released on Monday, March 16, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2020 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2018-19 annual averages -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Rate | |-------------------------| Over-the-year State | | | rate change | 2018 | 2019 | --------------------------------|------------|------------|--------------- Alabama ........................| 3.9 | 3.0 | -0.9 Colorado .......................| 3.2 | 2.8 | -.4 Florida ........................| 3.6 | 3.1 | -.5 Georgia ........................| 3.9 | 3.4 | -.5 Massachusetts ..................| 3.4 | 2.9 | -.5 Mississippi ....................| 4.8 | 5.4 | .6 Nevada .........................| 4.4 | 3.9 | -.5 New Jersey .....................| 4.1 | 3.6 | -.5 South Carolina .................| 3.5 | 2.8 | -.7 Texas ..........................| 3.8 | 3.5 | -.3 Utah ...........................| 3.0 | 2.6 | -.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table B. States with unemployment rates significantly differ- ent from that of the U.S., 2019 annual averages -------------------------------------------------------------- State | Rate -------------------------------------------------------------- United States .......................| 3.7 | Alabama .............................| 3.0 Alaska ..............................| 6.1 Arizona .............................| 4.7 California ..........................| 4.0 Colorado ............................| 2.8 District of Columbia ................| 5.5 Florida .............................| 3.1 Hawaii ..............................| 2.7 Idaho ...............................| 2.9 Iowa ................................| 2.7 | Kansas ..............................| 3.2 Kentucky ............................| 4.3 Louisiana ...........................| 4.8 Maine ...............................| 3.0 Massachusetts .......................| 2.9 Minnesota ...........................| 3.2 Mississippi .........................| 5.4 Nebraska ............................| 3.0 New Hampshire .......................| 2.5 New Mexico ..........................| 4.9 | North Dakota ........................| 2.4 Ohio ................................| 4.1 Pennsylvania ........................| 4.4 South Carolina ......................| 2.8 Utah ................................| 2.6 Vermont .............................| 2.4 Virginia ............................| 2.8 Washington ..........................| 4.3 West Virginia .......................| 4.9 -------------------------------------------------------------- Table C. States with statistically significant employment-population ratio changes, 2018-19 annual averages -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Ratio | |-------------------------| Over-the-year State | | | ratio change | 2018 | 2019 | --------------------------------|------------|------------|--------------- Alabama ........................| 55.4 | 56.3 | 0.9 Arizona ........................| 58.2 | 59.2 | 1.0 California .....................| 59.6 | 59.9 | .3 Florida ........................| 57.1 | 57.5 | .4 Hawaii .........................| 60.2 | 59.3 | -.9 Iowa ...........................| 67.0 | 68.5 | 1.5 Maryland .......................| 65.2 | 66.0 | .8 Massachusetts ..................| 65.2 | 65.8 | .6 Nevada .........................| 60.5 | 61.1 | .6 New Jersey .....................| 60.2 | 61.3 | 1.1 | | | New Mexico .....................| 54.7 | 55.4 | .7 North Carolina .................| 58.8 | 59.2 | .4 Pennsylvania ...................| 59.9 | 60.4 | .5 Tennessee ......................| 59.0 | 60.1 | 1.1 Virginia .......................| 63.5 | 64.3 | .8 Washington .....................| 61.3 | 62.3 | 1.0 West Virginia ..................| 51.2 | 52.4 | 1.2 Wisconsin ......................| 65.6 | 64.8 | -.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table D. States with employment-population ratios significantly different from that of the U.S., 2019 annual averages ---------------------------------------------------------------- State | Ratio ---------------------------------------------------------------- United States .......................| 60.8 | Alabama .............................| 56.3 Arizona .............................| 59.2 Arkansas ............................| 56.1 California ..........................| 59.9 Colorado ............................| 67.4 Connecticut .........................| 63.9 District of Columbia ................| 67.1 Florida .............................| 57.5 Hawaii ..............................| 59.3 Idaho ...............................| 62.6 | Illinois ............................| 61.9 Indiana .............................| 62.4 Iowa ................................| 68.5 Kansas ..............................| 64.6 Kentucky ............................| 56.8 Louisiana ...........................| 55.8 Maryland ............................| 66.0 Massachusetts .......................| 65.8 Michigan ............................| 59.2 Minnesota ...........................| 68.0 | Mississippi .........................| 52.8 Missouri ............................| 62.0 Nebraska ............................| 67.8 New Hampshire .......................| 67.3 New Mexico ..........................| 55.4 New York ............................| 58.4 North Carolina ......................| 59.2 North Dakota ........................| 67.6 Oklahoma ............................| 58.8 Oregon ..............................| 59.4 | South Carolina ......................| 56.8 South Dakota ........................| 66.7 Texas ...............................| 61.8 Utah ................................| 66.6 Vermont .............................| 64.5 Virginia ............................| 64.3 Washington ..........................| 62.3 West Virginia .......................| 52.4 Wisconsin ...........................| 64.8 Wyoming .............................| 62.6 ----------------------------------------------------------------