Data / Rankings / Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) / US states

US states by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)

District of Columbia had the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 51 states in 2023, at 72%. West Virginia had the lowest, at 53.6%. The median was 63.9% and the figure for the United States was 63.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest72District of Columbia
Lowest53.6West Virginia
Median63.951 states
United States63.5History

Map of states, 2023

Alabama: 58.1 %Alaska: 66.4 %Arizona: 60.5 %Arkansas: 58.3 %California: 63.9 %Colorado: 68.6 %Connecticut: 66.1 %Delaware: 62.3 %District of Columbia: 72 %Florida: 59.6 %Georgia: 63.7 %Hawaii: 64 %Idaho: 63 %Illinois: 65.1 %Indiana: 64 %Iowa: 66.5 %Kansas: 66.3 %Kentucky: 59.7 %Louisiana: 59.3 %Maine: 62.1 %Maryland: 67.2 %Massachusetts: 67.2 %Michigan: 61.4 %Minnesota: 68.5 %Mississippi: 57.2 %Missouri: 63.1 %Montana: 62.8 %Nebraska: 68.8 %Nevada: 63.1 %New Hampshire: 66.4 %New Jersey: 66.4 %New Mexico: 57.8 %New York: 63 %North Carolina: 62.7 %North Dakota: 69 %Ohio: 63.3 %Oklahoma: 61.3 %Oregon: 62.4 %Pennsylvania: 62.8 %Rhode Island: 65 %South Carolina: 60.5 %South Dakota: 67.5 %Tennessee: 62.1 %Texas: 65.3 %Utah: 69.6 %Vermont: 64.7 %Virginia: 65.6 %Washington: 64.7 %West Virginia: 53.6 %Wisconsin: 65.5 %Wyoming: 65 %
  • Under 61
  • 61 to 63
  • 63 to 64
  • 64 to 65
  • 65 to 67
  • 67 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2023

District of Columbia: 72 %District of Columbia72Utah: 69.6 %Utah69.6North Dakota: 69 %North Dakota69Nebraska: 68.8 %Nebraska68.8Colorado: 68.6 %Colorado68.6Minnesota: 68.5 %Minnesota68.5South Dakota: 67.5 %South Dakota67.5Massachusetts: 67.2 %Massachusetts67.2Maryland: 67.2 %Maryland67.2Iowa: 66.5 %Iowa66.5New Hampshire: 66.4 %New Hampshire66.4Alaska: 66.4 %Alaska66.4New Jersey: 66.4 %New Jersey66.4Kansas: 66.3 %Kansas66.3Connecticut: 66.1 %Connecticut66.1Virginia: 65.6 %Virginia65.6Wisconsin: 65.5 %Wisconsin65.5Texas: 65.3 %Texas65.3Illinois: 65.1 %Illinois65.1Rhode Island: 65 %Rhode Island65Wyoming: 65 %Wyoming65Vermont: 64.7 %Vermont64.7Washington: 64.7 %Washington64.7Hawaii: 64 %Hawaii64Indiana: 64 %Indiana64California: 63.9 %California63.9Georgia: 63.7 %Georgia63.7Ohio: 63.3 %Ohio63.3Missouri: 63.1 %Missouri63.1Nevada: 63.1 %Nevada63.1Idaho: 63 %Idaho63New York: 63 %New York63Montana: 62.8 %Montana62.8Pennsylvania: 62.8 %Pennsylvania62.8North Carolina: 62.7 %North Carolina62.7Oregon: 62.4 %Oregon62.4Delaware: 62.3 %Delaware62.3Tennessee: 62.1 %Tennessee62.1Maine: 62.1 %Maine62.1Michigan: 61.4 %Michigan61.4Oklahoma: 61.3 %Oklahoma61.3South Carolina: 60.5 %South Carolina60.5Arizona: 60.5 %Arizona60.5Kentucky: 59.7 %Kentucky59.7Florida: 59.6 %Florida59.6Louisiana: 59.3 %Louisiana59.3Arkansas: 58.3 %Arkansas58.3Alabama: 58.1 %Alabama58.1New Mexico: 57.8 %New Mexico57.8Mississippi: 57.2 %Mississippi57.2West Virginia: 53.6 %West Virginia53.6District of Columbia: 72 %District of Columbia72Utah: 69.6 %Utah69.6North Dakota: 69 %North Dakota69Nebraska: 68.8 %Nebraska68.8Colorado: 68.6 %Colorado68.6Minnesota: 68.5 %Minnesota68.5South Dakota: 67.5 %South Dakota67.5Massachusetts: 67.2 %Massachusetts67.2Maryland: 67.2 %Maryland67.2Iowa: 66.5 %Iowa66.5New Hampshire: 66.4 %New Hampshire66.4Alaska: 66.4 %Alaska66.4New Jersey: 66.4 %New Jersey66.4Kansas: 66.3 %Kansas66.3Connecticut: 66.1 %Connecticut66.1Virginia: 65.6 %Virginia65.6Wisconsin: 65.5 %Wisconsin65.5Texas: 65.3 %Texas65.3Illinois: 65.1 %Illinois65.1Rhode Island: 65 %Rhode Island65Wyoming: 65 %Wyoming65Vermont: 64.7 %Vermont64.7Washington: 64.7 %Washington64.7Hawaii: 64 %Hawaii64Indiana: 64 %Indiana64California: 63.9 %California63.9Georgia: 63.7 %Georgia63.7Ohio: 63.3 %Ohio63.3Missouri: 63.1 %Missouri63.1Nevada: 63.1 %Nevada63.1Idaho: 63 %Idaho63New York: 63 %New York63Montana: 62.8 %Montana62.8Pennsylvania: 62.8 %Pennsylvania62.8North Carolina: 62.7 %North Carolina62.7Oregon: 62.4 %Oregon62.4Delaware: 62.3 %Delaware62.3Tennessee: 62.1 %Tennessee62.1Maine: 62.1 %Maine62.1Michigan: 61.4 %Michigan61.4Oklahoma: 61.3 %Oklahoma61.3South Carolina: 60.5 %South Carolina60.5Arizona: 60.5 %Arizona60.5Kentucky: 59.7 %Kentucky59.7Florida: 59.6 %Florida59.6Louisiana: 59.3 %Louisiana59.3Arkansas: 58.3 %Arkansas58.3Alabama: 58.1 %Alabama58.1New Mexico: 57.8 %New Mexico57.8Mississippi: 57.2 %Mississippi57.2West Virginia: 53.6 %West Virginia53.6
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2023 (%)Change on 2022
1District of Columbia72-0 pts
2Utah69.6+0.3 pts
3North Dakota69-0.1 pts
4Nebraska68.8-0 pts
5Colorado68.6+0.1 pts
6Minnesota68.5-0.2 pts
7South Dakota67.5-0.1 pts
8Massachusetts67.2+0.1 pts
9Maryland67.2-0 pts
10Iowa66.5-0.1 pts
11New Hampshire66.4-0.3 pts
12Alaska66.4-0.4 pts
13New Jersey66.4+0.3 pts
14Kansas66.30 pts
15Connecticut66.1+0.1 pts
16Virginia65.6-0 pts
17Wisconsin65.5-0.2 pts
18Texas65.3+0.1 pts
19Illinois65.1-0.1 pts
20Rhode Island65+0.1 pts
21Wyoming65-0.7 pts
22Vermont64.7-0.2 pts
23Washington64.7+0.1 pts
24Hawaii64-0.6 pts
25Indiana640 pts
26California63.90 pts
27Georgia63.7+0.1 pts
28Ohio63.30 pts
29Missouri63.1+0.2 pts
30Nevada63.1-0.2 pts
31Idaho63+0.1 pts
32New York63+0.1 pts
33Montana62.8-0.2 pts
34Pennsylvania62.8-0.1 pts
35North Carolina62.7+0.1 pts
36Oregon62.4-0.1 pts
37Delaware62.3-0 pts
38Tennessee62.1+0.2 pts
39Maine62.1-0.1 pts
40Michigan61.4-0 pts
41Oklahoma61.30 pts
42South Carolina60.5+0.1 pts
43Arizona60.5-0 pts
44Kentucky59.7+0.1 pts
45Florida59.6+0.2 pts
46Louisiana59.3+0.1 pts
47Arkansas58.3+0.2 pts
48Alabama58.1+0.2 pts
49New Mexico57.8+0.2 pts
50Mississippi57.2-0 pts
51West Virginia53.6+0.4 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 16 and over in the labor force (employed, unemployed or in the Armed Forces) as a percentage of all people aged 16 and over, including people in group quarters. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The Census Bureau definition used in its data profiles. It differs from the BLS labor_force_participation_rate, which counts the civilian noninstitutional population only.

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. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. 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. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs (US states by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US states by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/us-states?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. US states by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/us-states?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US states by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/us-states?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_labor_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: US states by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/us-states?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: US states by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/us-states?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/us-states?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

District of Columbia, with 72% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

West Virginia, with 53.6% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

US states: more rankings