Data / Rankings / Covered employment (QCEW) / US states

US states by covered employment (QCEW)

California had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 51 states in 2016, at 16,718,647 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 271,813 jobs. The median was 1,861,063 jobs and the figure for the United States was 141,870,066 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest16,718,647California
Lowest271,813Wyoming
Median1,861,06351 states
United States141,870,066History

Map of states, 2016

Alabama: 1,915,306 jobsAlaska: 326,295 jobsArizona: 2,680,065 jobsArkansas: 1,191,763 jobsCalifornia: 16,718,647 jobsColorado: 2,552,503 jobsConnecticut: 1,666,554 jobsDelaware: 438,238 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 756,646 jobsFlorida: 8,309,351 jobsGeorgia: 4,262,937 jobsHawaii: 647,545 jobsIdaho: 687,919 jobsIllinois: 5,895,633 jobsIndiana: 2,987,091 jobsIowa: 1,539,752 jobsKansas: 1,370,665 jobsKentucky: 1,861,063 jobsLouisiana: 1,908,397 jobsMaine: 603,785 jobsMaryland: 2,627,172 jobsMassachusetts: 3,494,553 jobsMichigan: 4,242,537 jobsMinnesota: 2,815,248 jobsMississippi: 1,124,854 jobsMissouri: 2,755,477 jobsMontana: 454,819 jobsNebraska: 968,601 jobsNevada: 1,283,642 jobsNew Hampshire: 647,347 jobsNew Jersey: 3,953,972 jobsNew Mexico: 807,387 jobsNew York: 9,154,025 jobsNorth Carolina: 4,259,276 jobsNorth Dakota: 417,119 jobsOhio: 5,319,679 jobsOklahoma: 1,575,978 jobsOregon: 1,840,874 jobsPennsylvania: 5,737,759 jobsRhode Island: 473,406 jobsSouth Carolina: 1,996,297 jobsSouth Dakota: 420,460 jobsTennessee: 2,887,754 jobsTexas: 11,805,698 jobsUtah: 1,388,878 jobsVermont: 308,044 jobsVirginia: 3,789,744 jobsWashington: 3,215,014 jobsWest Virginia: 684,322 jobsWisconsin: 2,828,166 jobsWyoming: 271,813 jobs
  • Under 600K
  • 600K to 1.2M
  • 1.2M to 1.9M
  • 1.9M to 2.8M
  • 2.8M to 4.3M
  • 4.3M and over
jobs, 2016. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2016

California: 16,718,647 jobsCalifornia16,718,647Texas: 11,805,698 jobsTexas11,805,698New York: 9,154,025 jobsNew York9,154,025Florida: 8,309,351 jobsFlorida8,309,351Illinois: 5,895,633 jobsIllinois5,895,633Pennsylvania: 5,737,759 jobsPennsylvania5,737,759Ohio: 5,319,679 jobsOhio5,319,679Georgia: 4,262,937 jobsGeorgia4,262,937North Carolina: 4,259,276 jobsNorth Carolina4,259,276Michigan: 4,242,537 jobsMichigan4,242,537New Jersey: 3,953,972 jobsNew Jersey3,953,972Virginia: 3,789,744 jobsVirginia3,789,744Massachusetts: 3,494,553 jobsMassachusetts3,494,553Washington: 3,215,014 jobsWashington3,215,014Indiana: 2,987,091 jobsIndiana2,987,091Tennessee: 2,887,754 jobsTennessee2,887,754Wisconsin: 2,828,166 jobsWisconsin2,828,166Minnesota: 2,815,248 jobsMinnesota2,815,248Missouri: 2,755,477 jobsMissouri2,755,477Arizona: 2,680,065 jobsArizona2,680,065Maryland: 2,627,172 jobsMaryland2,627,172Colorado: 2,552,503 jobsColorado2,552,503South Carolina: 1,996,297 jobsSouth Carolina1,996,297Alabama: 1,915,306 jobsAlabama1,915,306Louisiana: 1,908,397 jobsLouisiana1,908,397Kentucky: 1,861,063 jobsKentucky1,861,063Oregon: 1,840,874 jobsOregon1,840,874Connecticut: 1,666,554 jobsConnecticut1,666,554Oklahoma: 1,575,978 jobsOklahoma1,575,978Iowa: 1,539,752 jobsIowa1,539,752Utah: 1,388,878 jobsUtah1,388,878Kansas: 1,370,665 jobsKansas1,370,665Nevada: 1,283,642 jobsNevada1,283,642Arkansas: 1,191,763 jobsArkansas1,191,763Mississippi: 1,124,854 jobsMississippi1,124,854Nebraska: 968,601 jobsNebraska968,601New Mexico: 807,387 jobsNew Mexico807,387District of Columbia: 756,646 jobsDistrict of Columbia756,646Idaho: 687,919 jobsIdaho687,919West Virginia: 684,322 jobsWest Virginia684,322Hawaii: 647,545 jobsHawaii647,545New Hampshire: 647,347 jobsNew Hampshire647,347Maine: 603,785 jobsMaine603,785Rhode Island: 473,406 jobsRhode Island473,406Montana: 454,819 jobsMontana454,819Delaware: 438,238 jobsDelaware438,238South Dakota: 420,460 jobsSouth Dakota420,460North Dakota: 417,119 jobsNorth Dakota417,119Alaska: 326,295 jobsAlaska326,295Vermont: 308,044 jobsVermont308,044Wyoming: 271,813 jobsWyoming271,813California: 16,718,647 jobsCalifornia16,718,647Texas: 11,805,698 jobsTexas11,805,698New York: 9,154,025 jobsNew York9,154,025Florida: 8,309,351 jobsFlorida8,309,351Illinois: 5,895,633 jobsIllinois5,895,633Pennsylvania: 5,737,759 jobsPennsylvania5,737,759Ohio: 5,319,679 jobsOhio5,319,679Georgia: 4,262,937 jobsGeorgia4,262,937North Carolina: 4,259,276 jobsNorth Carolina4,259,276Michigan: 4,242,537 jobsMichigan4,242,537New Jersey: 3,953,972 jobsNew Jersey3,953,972Virginia: 3,789,744 jobsVirginia3,789,744Massachusetts: 3,494,553 jobsMassachusetts3,494,553Washington: 3,215,014 jobsWashington3,215,014Indiana: 2,987,091 jobsIndiana2,987,091Tennessee: 2,887,754 jobsTennessee2,887,754Wisconsin: 2,828,166 jobsWisconsin2,828,166Minnesota: 2,815,248 jobsMinnesota2,815,248Missouri: 2,755,477 jobsMissouri2,755,477Arizona: 2,680,065 jobsArizona2,680,065Maryland: 2,627,172 jobsMaryland2,627,172Colorado: 2,552,503 jobsColorado2,552,503South Carolina: 1,996,297 jobsSouth Carolina1,996,297Alabama: 1,915,306 jobsAlabama1,915,306Louisiana: 1,908,397 jobsLouisiana1,908,397Kentucky: 1,861,063 jobsKentucky1,861,063Oregon: 1,840,874 jobsOregon1,840,874Connecticut: 1,666,554 jobsConnecticut1,666,554Oklahoma: 1,575,978 jobsOklahoma1,575,978Iowa: 1,539,752 jobsIowa1,539,752Utah: 1,388,878 jobsUtah1,388,878Kansas: 1,370,665 jobsKansas1,370,665Nevada: 1,283,642 jobsNevada1,283,642Arkansas: 1,191,763 jobsArkansas1,191,763Mississippi: 1,124,854 jobsMississippi1,124,854Nebraska: 968,601 jobsNebraska968,601New Mexico: 807,387 jobsNew Mexico807,387District of Columbia: 756,646 jobsDistrict of Columbia756,646Idaho: 687,919 jobsIdaho687,919West Virginia: 684,322 jobsWest Virginia684,322Hawaii: 647,545 jobsHawaii647,545New Hampshire: 647,347 jobsNew Hampshire647,347Maine: 603,785 jobsMaine603,785Rhode Island: 473,406 jobsRhode Island473,406Montana: 454,819 jobsMontana454,819Delaware: 438,238 jobsDelaware438,238South Dakota: 420,460 jobsSouth Dakota420,460North Dakota: 417,119 jobsNorth Dakota417,119Alaska: 326,295 jobsAlaska326,295Vermont: 308,044 jobsVermont308,044Wyoming: 271,813 jobsWyoming271,813
jobs. Source: BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2016
jobs		Change on 2015
1California16,718,647+2.6%
2Texas11,805,698+1.3%
3New York9,154,025+1.5%
4Florida8,309,351+3.4%
5Illinois5,895,633+0.8%
6Pennsylvania5,737,759+0.8%
7Ohio5,319,679+1.2%
8Georgia4,262,937+2.7%
9North Carolina4,259,276+2.3%
10Michigan4,242,537+1.9%
11New Jersey3,953,972+1.6%
12Virginia3,789,744+1.4%
13Massachusetts3,494,553+1.9%
14Washington3,215,014+3%
15Indiana2,987,091+1.5%
16Tennessee2,887,754+2.4%
17Wisconsin2,828,166+1.2%
18Minnesota2,815,248+1.4%
19Missouri2,755,477+1.5%
20Arizona2,680,065+2.7%
21Maryland2,627,172+1.4%
22Colorado2,552,503+2.3%
23South Carolina1,996,297+2.4%
24Alabama1,915,306+1.3%
25Louisiana1,908,397-1.2%
26Kentucky1,861,063+1.4%
27Oregon1,840,874+3%
28Connecticut1,666,554+0.2%
29Oklahoma1,575,978-1.1%
30Iowa1,539,752+0.6%
31Utah1,388,878+3.6%
32Kansas1,370,665+0.2%
33Nevada1,283,642+3.1%
34Arkansas1,191,763+1.2%
35Mississippi1,124,854+0.9%
36Nebraska968,601+1%
37New Mexico807,387+0.1%
38District of Columbia756,646+1.8%
39Idaho687,919+3.5%
40West Virginia684,322-1.7%
41Hawaii647,545+1.5%
42New Hampshire647,347+1.7%
43Maine603,785+1.3%
44Rhode Island473,406+0.7%
45Montana454,819+1.4%
46Delaware438,238+1%
47South Dakota420,460+1.1%
48North Dakota417,119-4.6%
49Alaska326,295-1.6%
50Vermont308,044+0.3%
51Wyoming271,813-3.8%

Other periods

About this ranking

Average number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance during the year, all industries, private and government, from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counted where the job is located, from the reports employers file each quarter; monthly employment counts the jobs in the pay period that includes the 12th.

Counts jobs, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. Covers about 95 percent of US wage and salary jobs. Excludes the self-employed, most agricultural workers on small farms, the armed forces, elected officials in most states, most railroad employees, some domestic workers and most student workers at schools. A count of employer reports, not a survey estimate like oews_employment.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties (US states by covered employment (QCEW), 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv

MLA 9

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, US states by covered employment (QCEW), 2016. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. US states by covered employment (QCEW), 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties, US states by covered employment (QCEW), 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_covered_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: US states by covered employment (QCEW), 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties: US states by covered employment (QCEW), 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2016/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

California, with 16,718,647 jobs in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Wyoming, with 271,813 jobs in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW): annual average employment, total covered, all industries (NAICS 10), nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Covered employment (QCEW): other rankings

US states: more rankings