Census ACS 5-Year · 52 states
States With Highest Employment Rates
The employment rate measures the percentage of the working-age population that is currently employed, providing a broader view of labor market health than the unemployment rate alone. States in the upper Midwest, including Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, consistently rank highest, driven by diverse economies, strong work cultures, and tight labor markets that draw nearly all available workers into employment. A high employment rate signals economic vitality: businesses can find customers, governments collect more tax revenue, and communities have lower demand for social services. Unlike the unemployment rate, the employment rate also captures people who have given up looking for work entirely, making it a more comprehensive measure. States with the highest employment rates tend to have lower poverty, stronger housing markets, and better fiscal health.
Key Findings
- 1Utah leads with a employment rate of 67.0%, followed by District of Columbia (66.7%) and Nebraska (66.3%).
- 2The gap between #1 Utah and #52 Puerto Rico (39.9%) is 27.1 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 60.0% (Montana at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Utah, District of Columbia, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Employment Rates
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Employment Rate | Unemployment | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 61.9% | 2.4% | $74,815 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 63.3% | 2.2% | $75,670 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 50.4% | 3.1% | $57,917 |
| 4 | Washington | 60.5% | 3.2% | $94,952 |
| 5 | Virginia | 61.0% | 2.7% | $90,974 |
| 6 | Vermont | 62.1% | 2.4% | $78,024 |
| 7 | Utah | 67.0% | 2.4% | $91,750 |
| 8 | Texas | 61.4% | 3.3% | $76,292 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 58.8% | 2.9% | $67,097 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 64.9% | 2.0% | $72,421 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 56.6% | 3.0% | $66,818 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 60.9% | 3.7% | $86,372 |
| 13 | Puerto Rico | 39.9% | 5.5% | $25,096 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 59.4% | 3.3% | $76,081 |
| 15 | Oregon | 58.9% | 3.3% | $80,426 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 57.5% | 3.0% | $63,603 |
| 17 | Ohio | 60.1% | 3.1% | $69,680 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 65.9% | 1.9% | $75,949 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 58.5% | 3.0% | $69,904 |
| 20 | New York | 58.9% | 3.9% | $84,578 |
| 21 | New Mexico | 53.5% | 3.4% | $62,125 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 62.1% | 4.1% | $101,050 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 64.0% | 2.2% | $95,628 |
| 24 | Nevada | 58.3% | 4.3% | $75,561 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 66.3% | 2.0% | $74,985 |
| 26 | Montana | 60.0% | 2.3% | $69,922 |
| 27 | Missouri | 60.1% | 2.6% | $68,920 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 53.2% | 3.4% | $54,915 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 65.7% | 2.7% | $87,556 |
| 30 | Michigan | 57.8% | 3.6% | $71,149 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 63.7% | 3.5% | $101,341 |
| 32 | Maryland | 63.2% | 3.3% | $101,652 |
| 33 | Maine | 59.5% | 2.4% | $71,773 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 55.1% | 3.7% | $60,023 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 56.4% | 2.9% | $62,417 |
| 36 | Kansas | 62.8% | 2.6% | $72,639 |
| 37 | Iowa | 64.0% | 2.4% | $73,147 |
| 38 | Indiana | 61.1% | 2.7% | $70,051 |
| 39 | Illinois | 61.2% | 3.8% | $81,702 |
| 40 | Idaho | 60.4% | 2.3% | $74,636 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 56.8% | 3.0% | $98,317 |
| 42 | Georgia | 59.8% | 3.2% | $74,664 |
| 43 | Florida | 56.3% | 2.8% | $71,711 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 66.7% | 4.6% | $106,287 |
| 45 | Delaware | 58.7% | 3.1% | $82,855 |
| 46 | Connecticut | 62.1% | 3.7% | $93,760 |
| 47 | Colorado | 64.7% | 3.0% | $92,470 |
| 48 | California | 59.3% | 4.1% | $96,334 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 55.1% | 3.0% | $58,773 |
| 50 | Arizona | 57.0% | 3.1% | $76,872 |
| 51 | Alaska | 58.9% | 3.6% | $89,336 |
| 52 | Alabama | 55.0% | 2.8% | $62,027 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Utah has the highest employment rate at 67.0%, according to latest Census ACS data. District of Columbia and Nebraska round out the top three.
Puerto Rico has the lowest employment rate at 39.9%. West Virginia is second-lowest at 50.4%.
The median across all 52 states is 60.0%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.