Census ACS 5-Year · 52 states
States With Highest Unemployment Rates
Unemployment rates vary significantly across states due to differences in industrial composition, educational attainment, seasonal employment patterns, and economic conditions. States dependent on a single industry, such as tourism, energy extraction, or agriculture, tend to experience more volatile employment. The ACS measures unemployment differently from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly jobs report: it captures a longer-term average that includes discouraged workers and those marginally attached to the labor force. States with consistently high unemployment often struggle with structural challenges: limited industry diversification, geographic isolation from major markets, or a mismatch between available jobs and worker skills. Understanding unemployment patterns helps businesses decide where to locate, workers decide where to move, and policymakers design targeted workforce development programs.
Key Findings
- 1Puerto Rico leads with a unemployment rate of 5.5%, followed by District of Columbia (4.6%) and Nevada (4.3%).
- 2The gap between #1 Puerto Rico and #52 North Dakota (1.9%) is 3.6 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 3.0% (Colorado at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, Nevada, California, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Connecticut, Rhode Island.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Unemployment Rates
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Unemployment | Employment Rate | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 2.4% | 61.9% | $74,815 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 2.2% | 63.3% | $75,670 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 3.1% | 50.4% | $57,917 |
| 4 | Washington | 3.2% | 60.5% | $94,952 |
| 5 | Virginia | 2.7% | 61.0% | $90,974 |
| 6 | Vermont | 2.4% | 62.1% | $78,024 |
| 7 | Utah | 2.4% | 67.0% | $91,750 |
| 8 | Texas | 3.3% | 61.4% | $76,292 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 2.9% | 58.8% | $67,097 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 2.0% | 64.9% | $72,421 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 3.0% | 56.6% | $66,818 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 3.7% | 60.9% | $86,372 |
| 13 | Puerto Rico | 5.5% | 39.9% | $25,096 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 3.3% | 59.4% | $76,081 |
| 15 | Oregon | 3.3% | 58.9% | $80,426 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 3.0% | 57.5% | $63,603 |
| 17 | Ohio | 3.1% | 60.1% | $69,680 |
| 18 | North Dakota | 1.9% | 65.9% | $75,949 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 3.0% | 58.5% | $69,904 |
| 20 | New York | 3.9% | 58.9% | $84,578 |
| 21 | New Mexico | 3.4% | 53.5% | $62,125 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 4.1% | 62.1% | $101,050 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 2.2% | 64.0% | $95,628 |
| 24 | Nevada | 4.3% | 58.3% | $75,561 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 2.0% | 66.3% | $74,985 |
| 26 | Montana | 2.3% | 60.0% | $69,922 |
| 27 | Missouri | 2.6% | 60.1% | $68,920 |
| 28 | Mississippi | 3.4% | 53.2% | $54,915 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 2.7% | 65.7% | $87,556 |
| 30 | Michigan | 3.6% | 57.8% | $71,149 |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 3.5% | 63.7% | $101,341 |
| 32 | Maryland | 3.3% | 63.2% | $101,652 |
| 33 | Maine | 2.4% | 59.5% | $71,773 |
| 34 | Louisiana | 3.7% | 55.1% | $60,023 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 2.9% | 56.4% | $62,417 |
| 36 | Kansas | 2.6% | 62.8% | $72,639 |
| 37 | Iowa | 2.4% | 64.0% | $73,147 |
| 38 | Indiana | 2.7% | 61.1% | $70,051 |
| 39 | Illinois | 3.8% | 61.2% | $81,702 |
| 40 | Idaho | 2.3% | 60.4% | $74,636 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 3.0% | 56.8% | $98,317 |
| 42 | Georgia | 3.2% | 59.8% | $74,664 |
| 43 | Florida | 2.8% | 56.3% | $71,711 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 4.6% | 66.7% | $106,287 |
| 45 | Delaware | 3.1% | 58.7% | $82,855 |
| 46 | Connecticut | 3.7% | 62.1% | $93,760 |
| 47 | Colorado | 3.0% | 64.7% | $92,470 |
| 48 | California | 4.1% | 59.3% | $96,334 |
| 49 | Arkansas | 3.0% | 55.1% | $58,773 |
| 50 | Arizona | 3.1% | 57.0% | $76,872 |
| 51 | Alaska | 3.6% | 58.9% | $89,336 |
| 52 | Alabama | 2.8% | 55.0% | $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
Puerto Rico has the highest unemployment rate at 5.5%, according to latest Census ACS data. District of Columbia and Nevada round out the top three.
North Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate at 1.9%. South Dakota is second-lowest at 2.0%.
The median across all 52 states is 3.0%. 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.