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

US states by covered employment (QCEW)

California had the highest covered employment (QCEW) of 51 states in 2021, at 16,974,870 jobs. Wyoming had the lowest, at 265,714 jobs. The median was 1,857,636 jobs and the figure for the United States was 143,780,068 jobs. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Highest16,974,870California
Lowest265,714Wyoming
Median1,857,63651 states
United States143,780,068History

Map of states, 2021

Alabama: 1,965,189 jobsAlaska: 305,145 jobsArizona: 2,935,150 jobsArkansas: 1,203,304 jobsCalifornia: 16,974,870 jobsColorado: 2,699,891 jobsConnecticut: 1,591,093 jobsDelaware: 441,668 jobsDistrict of Columbia: 725,826 jobsFlorida: 8,859,821 jobsGeorgia: 4,475,118 jobsHawaii: 588,086 jobsIdaho: 790,424 jobsIllinois: 5,694,355 jobsIndiana: 3,010,658 jobsIowa: 1,505,989 jobsKansas: 1,353,532 jobsKentucky: 1,857,636 jobsLouisiana: 1,816,296 jobsMaine: 610,111 jobsMaryland: 2,581,194 jobsMassachusetts: 3,456,005 jobsMichigan: 4,132,277 jobsMinnesota: 2,774,861 jobsMississippi: 1,117,423 jobsMissouri: 2,741,069 jobsMontana: 478,523 jobsNebraska: 965,748 jobsNevada: 1,357,630 jobsNew Hampshire: 649,187 jobsNew Jersey: 3,926,845 jobsNew Mexico: 796,691 jobsNew York: 8,817,105 jobsNorth Carolina: 4,509,160 jobsNorth Dakota: 400,472 jobsOhio: 5,246,891 jobsOklahoma: 1,571,737 jobsOregon: 1,881,040 jobsPennsylvania: 5,650,325 jobsRhode Island: 463,776 jobsSouth Carolina: 2,093,950 jobsSouth Dakota: 430,806 jobsTennessee: 3,016,458 jobsTexas: 12,526,069 jobsUtah: 1,583,748 jobsVermont: 291,663 jobsVirginia: 3,838,861 jobsWashington: 3,352,607 jobsWest Virginia: 657,806 jobsWisconsin: 2,800,269 jobsWyoming: 265,714 jobs
  • Under 600K
  • 600K to 1.2M
  • 1.2M to 1.9M
  • 1.9M to 2.8M
  • 2.8M to 4.4M
  • 4.4M and over
jobs, 2021. 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, 2021

California: 16,974,870 jobsCalifornia16,974,870Texas: 12,526,069 jobsTexas12,526,069Florida: 8,859,821 jobsFlorida8,859,821New York: 8,817,105 jobsNew York8,817,105Illinois: 5,694,355 jobsIllinois5,694,355Pennsylvania: 5,650,325 jobsPennsylvania5,650,325Ohio: 5,246,891 jobsOhio5,246,891North Carolina: 4,509,160 jobsNorth Carolina4,509,160Georgia: 4,475,118 jobsGeorgia4,475,118Michigan: 4,132,277 jobsMichigan4,132,277New Jersey: 3,926,845 jobsNew Jersey3,926,845Virginia: 3,838,861 jobsVirginia3,838,861Massachusetts: 3,456,005 jobsMassachusetts3,456,005Washington: 3,352,607 jobsWashington3,352,607Tennessee: 3,016,458 jobsTennessee3,016,458Indiana: 3,010,658 jobsIndiana3,010,658Arizona: 2,935,150 jobsArizona2,935,150Wisconsin: 2,800,269 jobsWisconsin2,800,269Minnesota: 2,774,861 jobsMinnesota2,774,861Missouri: 2,741,069 jobsMissouri2,741,069Colorado: 2,699,891 jobsColorado2,699,891Maryland: 2,581,194 jobsMaryland2,581,194South Carolina: 2,093,950 jobsSouth Carolina2,093,950Alabama: 1,965,189 jobsAlabama1,965,189Oregon: 1,881,040 jobsOregon1,881,040Kentucky: 1,857,636 jobsKentucky1,857,636Louisiana: 1,816,296 jobsLouisiana1,816,296Connecticut: 1,591,093 jobsConnecticut1,591,093Utah: 1,583,748 jobsUtah1,583,748Oklahoma: 1,571,737 jobsOklahoma1,571,737Iowa: 1,505,989 jobsIowa1,505,989Nevada: 1,357,630 jobsNevada1,357,630Kansas: 1,353,532 jobsKansas1,353,532Arkansas: 1,203,304 jobsArkansas1,203,304Mississippi: 1,117,423 jobsMississippi1,117,423Nebraska: 965,748 jobsNebraska965,748New Mexico: 796,691 jobsNew Mexico796,691Idaho: 790,424 jobsIdaho790,424District of Columbia: 725,826 jobsDistrict of Columbia725,826West Virginia: 657,806 jobsWest Virginia657,806New Hampshire: 649,187 jobsNew Hampshire649,187Maine: 610,111 jobsMaine610,111Hawaii: 588,086 jobsHawaii588,086Montana: 478,523 jobsMontana478,523Rhode Island: 463,776 jobsRhode Island463,776Delaware: 441,668 jobsDelaware441,668South Dakota: 430,806 jobsSouth Dakota430,806North Dakota: 400,472 jobsNorth Dakota400,472Alaska: 305,145 jobsAlaska305,145Vermont: 291,663 jobsVermont291,663Wyoming: 265,714 jobsWyoming265,714California: 16,974,870 jobsCalifornia16,974,870Texas: 12,526,069 jobsTexas12,526,069Florida: 8,859,821 jobsFlorida8,859,821New York: 8,817,105 jobsNew York8,817,105Illinois: 5,694,355 jobsIllinois5,694,355Pennsylvania: 5,650,325 jobsPennsylvania5,650,325Ohio: 5,246,891 jobsOhio5,246,891North Carolina: 4,509,160 jobsNorth Carolina4,509,160Georgia: 4,475,118 jobsGeorgia4,475,118Michigan: 4,132,277 jobsMichigan4,132,277New Jersey: 3,926,845 jobsNew Jersey3,926,845Virginia: 3,838,861 jobsVirginia3,838,861Massachusetts: 3,456,005 jobsMassachusetts3,456,005Washington: 3,352,607 jobsWashington3,352,607Tennessee: 3,016,458 jobsTennessee3,016,458Indiana: 3,010,658 jobsIndiana3,010,658Arizona: 2,935,150 jobsArizona2,935,150Wisconsin: 2,800,269 jobsWisconsin2,800,269Minnesota: 2,774,861 jobsMinnesota2,774,861Missouri: 2,741,069 jobsMissouri2,741,069Colorado: 2,699,891 jobsColorado2,699,891Maryland: 2,581,194 jobsMaryland2,581,194South Carolina: 2,093,950 jobsSouth Carolina2,093,950Alabama: 1,965,189 jobsAlabama1,965,189Oregon: 1,881,040 jobsOregon1,881,040Kentucky: 1,857,636 jobsKentucky1,857,636Louisiana: 1,816,296 jobsLouisiana1,816,296Connecticut: 1,591,093 jobsConnecticut1,591,093Utah: 1,583,748 jobsUtah1,583,748Oklahoma: 1,571,737 jobsOklahoma1,571,737Iowa: 1,505,989 jobsIowa1,505,989Nevada: 1,357,630 jobsNevada1,357,630Kansas: 1,353,532 jobsKansas1,353,532Arkansas: 1,203,304 jobsArkansas1,203,304Mississippi: 1,117,423 jobsMississippi1,117,423Nebraska: 965,748 jobsNebraska965,748New Mexico: 796,691 jobsNew Mexico796,691Idaho: 790,424 jobsIdaho790,424District of Columbia: 725,826 jobsDistrict of Columbia725,826West Virginia: 657,806 jobsWest Virginia657,806New Hampshire: 649,187 jobsNew Hampshire649,187Maine: 610,111 jobsMaine610,111Hawaii: 588,086 jobsHawaii588,086Montana: 478,523 jobsMontana478,523Rhode Island: 463,776 jobsRhode Island463,776Delaware: 441,668 jobsDelaware441,668South Dakota: 430,806 jobsSouth Dakota430,806North Dakota: 400,472 jobsNorth Dakota400,472Alaska: 305,145 jobsAlaska305,145Vermont: 291,663 jobsVermont291,663Wyoming: 265,714 jobsWyoming265,714
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

RankStates2021
jobs		Change on 2020
1California16,974,870+3.6%
2Texas12,526,069+3.8%
3Florida8,859,821+4.9%
4New York8,817,105+2.7%
5Illinois5,694,355+2.2%
6Pennsylvania5,650,325+2.9%
7Ohio5,246,891+2.4%
8North Carolina4,509,160+4.3%
9Georgia4,475,118+3.9%
10Michigan4,132,277+4.1%
11New Jersey3,926,845+4.7%
12Virginia3,838,861+2.5%
13Massachusetts3,456,005+4%
14Washington3,352,607+2.9%
15Tennessee3,016,458+3.4%
16Indiana3,010,658+3.1%
17Arizona2,935,150+3.9%
18Wisconsin2,800,269+2.6%
19Minnesota2,774,861+2.6%
20Missouri2,741,069+2.5%
21Colorado2,699,891+3.7%
22Maryland2,581,194+2.7%
23South Carolina2,093,950+3.2%
24Alabama1,965,189+2.9%
25Oregon1,881,040+2.4%
26Kentucky1,857,636+3.6%
27Louisiana1,816,296+2%
28Connecticut1,591,093+3%
29Utah1,583,748+5.2%
30Oklahoma1,571,737+1.4%
31Iowa1,505,989+2.1%
32Nevada1,357,630+7.3%
33Kansas1,353,532+1.9%
34Arkansas1,203,304+2.4%
35Mississippi1,117,423+2.5%
36Nebraska965,748+1.9%
37New Mexico796,691+1.9%
38Idaho790,424+5.7%
39District of Columbia725,826-0%
40West Virginia657,806+2.5%
41New Hampshire649,187+3.9%
42Maine610,111+4.4%
43Hawaii588,086+5%
44Montana478,523+4.8%
45Rhode Island463,776+4.4%
46Delaware441,668+3.5%
47South Dakota430,806+3.3%
48North Dakota400,472+1.1%
49Alaska305,145+2.6%
50Vermont291,663+2.9%
51Wyoming265,714+1.8%

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/2021/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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2021/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), 2021. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 Aug. 2026, https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2021/a/industry/10.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2021/a/industry/10.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2021/a/industry/10.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_us_states_by_covered_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2021/a/industry/10.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2021. 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/2021/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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/21
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.bls.gov/cew/data/api/2021/a/industry/10.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/covered-employment/us-states?period=2021.
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/2021/a/industry/10.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest covered employment (QCEW)?

California, with 16,974,870 jobs in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest covered employment (QCEW)?

Wyoming, with 265,714 jobs in 2021.

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