Unemployment rate by state
In September 2026, unemployment ranged from 2.0% in South Dakota to 5.6% in District of Columbia; the national rate was 4.1% (October 2026), with 20 states above it.
Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted. Darker = higher. Select a state for its full economy page.
| Rank | State | Rate | Month before | Year before | 1-yr change | Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.1% | -0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 2 | North Dakota | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.6% | -0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 2.6% | 2.8% | 3.2% | -0.6 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 4 | Vermont | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.6% | +0.0 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 5 | Hawaii | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.1% | +0.7 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 6 | Nebraska | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | +0.0 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 7 | Wyoming | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.4% | -0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 8 | Montana | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.5% | -0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 9 | Iowa | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.4% | -0.2 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.1% | +0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 11 | Georgia | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.4% | -0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 12 | Maine | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.3% | +0.0 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 13 | Mississippi | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.7% | -0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 14 | Indiana | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.7% | -0.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.9% | -0.5 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 16 | Ohio | 3.4% | 3.3% | 4.3% | -0.9 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.5% | -0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 18 | Alabama | 3.5% | 3.4% | 2.8% | +0.7 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 19 | Utah | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.6% | -0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 20 | Idaho | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | +0.0 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 21 | Missouri | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.9% | -0.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.4% | -0.8 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | 3.6% | 3.7% | 4.3% | -0.7 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 24 | Virginia | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.4% | +0.2 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 25 | Kansas | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | +0.0 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 26 | Arkansas | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.2% | -0.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 27 | Maryland | 3.9% | 4.1% | 4.3% | -0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 28 | Louisiana | 4.0% | 4.2% | 4.2% | -0.2 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 29 | South Carolina | 4.0% | 4.1% | 4.7% | -0.7 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 30 | West Virginia | 4.0% | 4.0% | 4.5% | -0.5 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 31 | Colorado | 4.1% | 4.0% | 3.8% | +0.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 32 | New Jersey | 4.2% | 4.3% | 5.5% | -1.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 4.2% | 4.3% | 3.6% | +0.6 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 34 | Alaska | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.7% | -0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.6% | -0.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 36 | New York | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.6% | -0.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 37 | Florida | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.2% | +0.2 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 38 | Texas | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.3% | +0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 39 | Minnesota | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.1% | +0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 40 | Delaware | 4.6% | 4.7% | 5.2% | -0.6 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 41 | Illinois | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.5% | +0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 42 | Kentucky | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.5% | +0.2 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 43 | Nevada | 4.7% | 4.8% | 5.2% | -0.5 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 44 | New Mexico | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.2% | +0.5 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 45 | Washington | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.7% | +0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 46 | Arizona | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.4% | +0.5 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 47 | Michigan | 5.0% | 5.0% | 4.9% | +0.1 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 48 | Oregon | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.3% | -0.3 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 49 | California | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.5% | -0.4 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 50 | Connecticut | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.2% | +0.9 pp | Sep 2026 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 5.6% | 5.7% | 6.6% | -1.0 pp | Sep 2026 |
Ranked from lowest to highest. pp = percentage points. US rate: 4.1% (October 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the highest unemployment rate?
District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate in September 2026, at 5.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Which state has the lowest unemployment rate?
South Dakota had the lowest, at 2.0% in September 2026.
Where is unemployment rising fastest?
Compared with a year earlier, the biggest increase was in Connecticut, from 4.2% to 5.1%.
How are state unemployment rates measured?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Local Area Unemployment Statistics program estimates each state's rate monthly from the Current Population Survey, payroll data and unemployment insurance claims. State figures come out a few weeks after the national jobs report and are seasonally adjusted.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, via FRED. Checked Nov 6, 5:46 PM ET.