Data / Rankings / Unemployment rate / US states

US states by unemployment rate

District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate of 51 states in November 2025, at 6.7%. South Dakota had the lowest, at 2.2%. The median was 4.2% and the figure for the United States was 4.5%. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Highest6.7District of Columbia
Lowest2.2South Dakota
Median4.251 states
United States4.5History

All states, November 2025

CSVChart (SVG)

District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia: 6.7 %6.7CaliforniaCalifornia: 5.5 %5.5New JerseyNew Jersey: 5.4 %5.4DelawareDelaware: 5.3 %5.3OregonOregon: 5.3 %5.3NevadaNevada: 5.2 %5.2MichiganMichigan: 5 %5WashingtonWashington: 4.9 %4.9AlaskaAlaska: 4.8 %4.8South CarolinaSouth Carolina: 4.8 %4.8IllinoisIllinois: 4.7 %4.7MassachusettsMassachusetts: 4.7 %4.7New YorkNew York: 4.6 %4.6West VirginiaWest Virginia: 4.6 %4.6ArizonaArizona: 4.4 %4.4KentuckyKentucky: 4.4 %4.4PennsylvaniaPennsylvania: 4.4 %4.4Rhode IslandRhode Island: 4.4 %4.4ArkansasArkansas: 4.3 %4.3ConnecticutConnecticut: 4.3 %4.3FloridaFlorida: 4.3 %4.3MarylandMaryland: 4.3 %4.3New MexicoNew Mexico: 4.3 %4.3OhioOhio: 4.3 %4.3TexasTexas: 4.3 %4.3LouisianaLouisiana: 4.2 %4.2MinnesotaMinnesota: 4.2 %4.2MissouriMissouri: 3.9 %3.9ColoradoColorado: 3.8 %3.8KansasKansas: 3.8 %3.8North CarolinaNorth Carolina: 3.8 %3.8MississippiMississippi: 3.7 %3.7OklahomaOklahoma: 3.7 %3.7UtahUtah: 3.7 %3.7IdahoIdaho: 3.6 %3.6MontanaMontana: 3.6 %3.6TennesseeTennessee: 3.6 %3.6VirginiaVirginia: 3.6 %3.6GeorgiaGeorgia: 3.5 %3.5IndianaIndiana: 3.5 %3.5WyomingWyoming: 3.5 %3.5IowaIowa: 3.4 %3.4MaineMaine: 3.3 %3.3New HampshireNew Hampshire: 3.2 %3.2WisconsinWisconsin: 3.2 %3.2NebraskaNebraska: 3 %3AlabamaAlabama: 2.7 %2.7VermontVermont: 2.7 %2.7North DakotaNorth Dakota: 2.6 %2.6HawaiiHawaii: 2.2 %2.2South DakotaSouth Dakota: 2.2 %2.2
%. Source: BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankStatesNovember 2025 (%)Change on November 2024
1District of Columbia6.7+1.2 pts
2California5.5+0.1 pts
3New Jersey5.4+0.6 pts
4Delaware5.3+1.3 pts
4Oregon5.3+0.8 pts
6Nevada5.2-0.2 pts
7Michigan5-0.2 pts
8Washington4.9+0.6 pts
9Alaska4.8+0.2 pts
9South Carolina4.8+0.5 pts
11Illinois4.7-0.1 pts
11Massachusetts4.7+0.6 pts
13New York4.6+0.5 pts
13West Virginia4.6+0.7 pts
15Arizona4.4+0.4 pts
15Kentucky4.4-0.5 pts
15Pennsylvania4.4+0.4 pts
15Rhode Island4.4-0.1 pts
19Arkansas4.3+0.6 pts
19Connecticut4.3+0.8 pts
19Florida4.3+0.8 pts
19Maryland4.3+0.9 pts
19New Mexico4.3+0.1 pts
19Ohio4.3-0.4 pts
19Texas4.3+0.1 pts
26Louisiana4.2-0.2 pts
26Minnesota4.2+0.9 pts
28Missouri3.9+0.1 pts
29Colorado3.8-0.5 pts
29Kansas3.8+0.1 pts
29North Carolina3.8+0.1 pts
32Mississippi3.70 pts
32Oklahoma3.7+0.6 pts
32Utah3.7+0.4 pts
35Idaho3.60 pts
35Montana3.6+0.7 pts
35Tennessee3.60 pts
35Virginia3.6+0.5 pts
39Georgia3.5+0.1 pts
39Indiana3.5-0.6 pts
39Wyoming3.5+0.2 pts
42Iowa3.4-0.1 pts
43Maine3.3+0.1 pts
44New Hampshire3.2+0.3 pts
44Wisconsin3.2+0.1 pts
46Nebraska3+0.2 pts
47Alabama2.7-0.4 pts
47Vermont2.7+0.2 pts
49North Dakota2.6+0.1 pts
50Hawaii2.2-0.5 pts
50South Dakota2.2+0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force, using the survey definition of unemployment: without work, available and looking for work. Spain: EPA, aged 16 and over. EU: Labour Force Survey, aged 15 to 74. United States: civilian labour force aged 16 and over, from the Current Population Survey for the nation and from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics models, consistent with that survey, for states and counties. Other countries and the World: ILO modelled estimates published by the World Bank, aged 15 and over.

Survey-based. Available for Spain, regions, provinces, EU countries, US states and US counties, not Spanish municipalities. For municipalities use registered_unemployment_rate. US national and state rates are seasonally adjusted; county rates are not. Countries without a national or Eurostat series get the annual ILO modelled estimate, a model output rather than a survey result.

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. Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by state, seasonally adjusted. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.3.AllStatesS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

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Questions

Which state has the highest unemployment rate?

District of Columbia, with 6.7% in November 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which state has the lowest unemployment rate?

South Dakota, with 2.2% in November 2025.

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, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by state, seasonally adjusted. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Unemployment rate: other rankings

US states: more rankings