Unemployment rates significantly lower than national rate in 15 states in October 2019

In October 2019, 15 states had unemployment rates that were lower than the U.S. rate of 3.6 percent. Vermont had the lowest unemployment rate in October 2019, 2.2 percent. North Dakota and Utah both had unemployment rates of 2.5 percent, while Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Virginia each had unemployment rates of 2.6 percent in October. Six other states had rates that were 3.0 percent or lower.

Chart Image

Chart Data States with unemployment rates significantly different from the U.S. unemployment rate, October 2019, seasonally adjusted State Unemployment rate Alaska 6.2% Mississippi 5.5 District of Columbia 5.4 Arizona 4.8 New Mexico 4.8 West Virginia 4.8 Louisiana 4.5 Washington 4.5 Kentucky 4.3 Ohio 4.2 Pennsylvania 4.2 New York 4.0 California 3.9 United States 3.6 Nebraska 3.1 South Dakota 3.0 Idaho 2.9 Massachusetts 2.9 Alabama 2.8 Maine 2.8 Hawaii 2.7 Colorado 2.6 Iowa 2.6 New Hampshire 2.6 South Carolina 2.6 Virginia 2.6 North Dakota 2.5 Utah 2.5 Vermont 2.2

Unemployment rates in Alabama (2.8 percent), California (3.9 percent), Maine (2.8 percent), and South Carolina (2.6 percent) set new series lows. (All state unemployment data series begin in 1976.)

Unemployment rates were higher than the national rate in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.2 percent. Unemployment rates were also above 5.0 percent in Mississippi and the District of Columbia. Arizona, New Mexico, and West Virginia all had unemployment rates of 4.8 percent in October.

These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. State unemployment data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "State Employment and Unemployment — October 2019." Also see charts and maps of state employment and unemployment data.

RELATED ARTICLES Retail trade employment decreases 4.5 percent in North Dakota for the year ended October 2019