White Unemployment by State

Photo of Thomas Frohlich
By Thomas Frohlich Updated Published
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

unemployed, unemployment, applying to job
Thinkstock
The likelihood of being unemployed in the United States depends to some degree on race and ethnicity. In 2015, 5.3% of the U.S. labor force was unemployed. For white workers, the jobless rate was 4.6%, less than half the 9.6% rate for black Americans, but above the 3.8% rate for Asians.

To highlight not just how labor force statistics can vary between demographic groups, but also the pattern of these differences across the country, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the latest annual unemployment statistics by race and ethnicity in every state.

Whites made up 79% of the labor force in 2015. White members of the U.S. workforce comprise disproportionately high shares of managerial positions. Nearly all (97%) of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers are white, as are 91% of construction managers and 90% of chief executives.

Overall unemployment rates came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are for 2015. People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.

2015 Unemployment by Race and Ethnicity

State White Black or
African
American
Hispanic or
Latino
Ethnicity
Total
Alabama 4.3% 10.6% 6.5% 6.1%
Alaska 5.2% 4.6% 5.1% 6.7%
Arizona 5.7% 9.1% 8.3% 6.0%
Arkansas 4.3% 10.3% 6.7% 5.2%
California 6.0% 11.0% 7.6% 6.2%
Colorado 3.8% 5.9% 5.5% 3.9%
Connecticut 4.5% 13.2% 11.3% 5.6%
Delaware 4.3% 8.0% 6.0% 5.0%
Florida 4.6% 9.0% 5.8% 5.4%
Georgia 4.0% 9.3% 5.1% 5.8%
Hawaii 4.5% 4.1% 4.1% 3.7%
Idaho 4.2% . 5.9% 4.3%
Illinois 5.0% 12.2% 7.2% 5.9%
Indiana 4.5% 7.0% 5.6% 4.8%
Iowa 3.2% 14.8% 4.5% 3.6%
Kansas 4.1% 6.6% 4.5% 4.3%
Kentucky 4.9% 11.2% 9.7% 5.4%
Louisiana 4.8% 9.7% 7.6% 6.2%
Maine 4.2% 10.1% 12.0% 4.4%
Maryland 3.6% 8.3% 5.4% 5.2%
Massachusetts 4.4% 10.6% 11.0% 4.9%
Michigan 4.5% 11.6% 8.6% 5.4%
Minnesota 2.9% 14.1% 3.8% 3.8%
Mississippi 4.7% 9.4% 5.4% 6.5%
Missouri 4.4% 10.0% 5.5% 5.0%
Montana 3.7% . 5.2% 4.1%
Nebraska 2.6% 5.3% 5.0% 3.0%
Nevada 6.1% 13.5% 8.0% 6.9%
New Hampshire 3.5% 8.6% 5.3% 3.4%
New Jersey 5.2% 10.0% 7.6% 5.8%
New Mexico 5.7% 6.5% 6.4% 6.8%
New York 4.5% 8.2% 6.7% 5.3%
North Carolina 4.8% 10.3% 7.4% 5.9%
North Dakota 2.4% . . 2.7%
Ohio 4.0% 10.9% 5.8% 4.9%
Oklahoma 3.8% 8.8% 4.8% 4.3%
Oregon 5.7% 7.4% 6.5% 5.7%
Pennsylvania 4.5% 10.5% 7.7% 5.2%
Rhode Island 5.2% 12.2% 9.1% 5.9%
South Carolina 4.1% 10.7% 6.2% 5.9%
South Dakota 2.0% . 3.9% 3.5%
Tennessee 5.1% 7.5% 4.0% 5.7%
Texas 4.1% 7.5% 4.9% 4.4%
Utah 3.6% . 6.0% 3.6%
Vermont 3.6% . 3.7% 3.6%
Virginia 3.6% 7.9% 6.0% 4.5%
Washington 5.3% 8.9% 6.1% 5.6%
West Virginia 6.8% 10.6% 2.0% 6.9%
Wisconsin 4.1% 11.1% 6.7% 4.6%
Wyoming 3.9% . 4.8% 4.1%
Note: People whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Photo of Thomas Frohlich
About the Author Thomas Frohlich →

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

CBOE Vol: 1,568,143
PSKY Vol: 12,285,993
STX Vol: 7,378,346
ORCL Vol: 26,317,675
DDOG Vol: 6,247,779

Top Losing Stocks

LKQ
LKQ Vol: 4,367,433
CLX Vol: 13,260,523
SYK Vol: 4,519,455
MHK Vol: 1,859,865
AMGN Vol: 3,818,618