Special Report

Unemployment Improves Across Country, 12 States Didn't Improve

Michael B. Sauter

Published: February 28, 2017 1:14 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 2:24 pm

With 2016 unemployment rates of 2.7%, New Hampshire and South Dakota replaced North Dakota as the states with the lowest unemployment rates — the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Tuesday. New Mexico’s 6.7% unemployment rate is the highest in the country, pushing West Virginia and Nevada out of that position.

National unemployment figures were released in early February. The nationwide unemployment rate declined from 5.3% in 2015 to 4.9% last year. However, national rates do not tell the full story of employment in the United States. While unemployment declined in the majority of states, it remained unchanged or increased in 12. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed current annual unemployment rates in all 50 states.

Between 2015 and 2016, state unemployment rates declined by as much as 1.2 percentage points in Massachusetts, and increased by a nation-leading 1.1 percentage points in Wyoming. Wyoming’s unemployment rate rose from 14th lowest in 2015 to 13th highest in 2016. On the whole, though, unemployment rate changes between 2015 and 2016 did not meaningfully alter where most states rank.

Click here to see your states 2016 unemployment rate.

For the most part, state jobless ranks reflect longer-term trends. The U.S. economy has changed drastically in the past decade. As the housing bubble burst and the economy spiraled into the worst recession since the Great Depression, unemployment hit a multi-decade high of 10% in October 2009. Current unemployment rates among states largely reflect events over the last decade.

The prevalence of certain skillsets in the labor force can help prevent major swings in unemployment, as highly-educated residents are often better able to find work. Of the 10 states with the highest unemployment rates, seven have college attainment rates lower than the national average. Of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment rates, seven have a higher share of college-educated adults.

To identify the states with the highest and lowest unemployment rates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2016 annual unemployment rates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. State figures, as well as the relative change in each state’s employment came from Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics database. The percentage of adults who have at least a bachelor’s degree was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey.

These are the states with the highest and lowest unemployment rates.

50. South Dakota
> 2016 unemployment: 2.8% (tied – the lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.1% (3rd lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.3%
> Adults w/ college degree: 27.5% (17th lowest)

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49. New Hampshire
> 2016 unemployment: 2.8% (tied – lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.4% (4th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.6%
> Adults w/ college degree: 35.7% (8th highest)

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48. Hawaii
> 2016 unemployment: 3.0% (3rd lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.6% (tied – 5th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.6%
> Adults w/ college degree: 31.4% (18th highest)

47. North Dakota
> 2016 unemployment: 3.2% (tied – 4th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 2.8% (the lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.4%
> Adults w/ college degree: 29.1% (24th lowest)

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46. Nebraska
> 2016 unemployment: 3.2% (tied – 4th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.0% (2nd lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.2%
> Adults w/ college degree: 30.2% (21st highest)

45. Vermont
> 2016 unemployment: 3.3% (tied – 6th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.6% (tied – 5th lowest))
> Chg. from 2015: -0.3%
> Adults w/ college degree: 36.9% (7th highest)

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44. Colorado
> 2016 unemployment: 3.3% (tied – 6th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.9% (10th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.6%
> Adults w/ college degree: 39.2% (2nd highest)

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43. Utah
> 2016 unemployment: 3.4% (8th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.6% (tied – 5th lowest))
> Chg. from 2015: -0.2%
> Adults w/ college degree: 31.8% (16th highest)

42. Massachusetts
> 2016 unemployment: 3.7% (tied – 9th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.9% (tied – 22nd lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -1.2%
> Adults w/ college degree: 41.5% (the highest)

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41. Iowa
> 2016 unemployment: 3.7% (tied – 9th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.8% (9th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 26.8% (tied – 15th lowest)

40. Idaho
> 2016 unemployment: 3.8% (11th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.2% (tied – 11th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.4%
> Adults w/ college degree: 26.0% (11th lowest)

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39. Maine
> 2016 unemployment: 3.9% (tied – 12th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.4% (tied – 15th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 30.1% (22nd highest)

38. Minnesota
> 2016 unemployment: 3.9% (tied – 12th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 3.7% (8th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.2%
> Adults w/ college degree: 34.7% (10th highest)

37. Virginia
> 2016 unemployment: 4.0% (tied – 14th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.5% (tied – 17th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 37.0% (6th highest)

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36. Arkansas
> 2016 unemployment: 4.0% (tied – 14th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.1% (tied – 25th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -1.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 21.8% (3rd lowest)

35. Montana
> 2016 unemployment: 4.1% (tied – 16th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.2% (tied – 11th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 30.6% (20th highest)

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34. Wisconsin
> 2016 unemployment: 4.1% (tied – 16th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.6% (19th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 28.4% (tied – 21st lowest)

33. Kansas
> 2016 unemployment: 4.2% (18th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.2% (tied – 11th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.0%
> Adults w/ college degree: 31.7% (17th highest)

32. Maryland
> 2016 unemployment: 4.3% (19th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.1% (tied – 25th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.8%
> Adults w/ college degree: 38.8% (3rd highest)

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31. Delaware
> 2016 unemployment: 4.4% (tied – 20th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.8% (tied – 20th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.4%
> Adults w/ college degree: 30.9% (19th highest)

30. Indiana
> 2016 unemployment: 4.4% (tied – 20th lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.8% (tied – 20th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.4%
> Adults w/ college degree: 24.9% (9th lowest)

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29. Missouri
> 2016 unemployment: 4.5% (22nd lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.0% (24th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 27.8% (tied – 19th lowest)

28. Texas
> 2016 unemployment: 4.6% (23rd lowest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.5% (tied – 17th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 28.4% (tied – 21st lowest)

27. Tennessee
> 2016 unemployment: 4.8% (tied – 24th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.6% (tied – 17th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.8%
> Adults w/ college degree: 25.7% (10th lowest)

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26. New York
> 2016 unemployment: 4.8% (tied – 24th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.3% (tied – 22nd highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 35.0% (9th highest)

25. South Carolina
> 2016 unemployment: 4.8% (tied – 24th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.0% (tied – 9th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -1.2%
> Adults w/ college degree: 26.8% (tied – 15th lowest)

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24. Michigan
> 2016 unemployment: 4.9% (tied – 20th highest
> 2015 unemployment: 5.4% (20th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 27.8% (tied – 19th lowest)

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23. Oklahoma
> 2016 unemployment: 4.9% (tied – 20th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.4% (tied – 15th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 24.6% (8th lowest)

22. Florida
> 2016 unemployment: 4.9% (tied – 20th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.4% (20th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.5%
> Adults w/ college degree: 28.4% (tied – 21st lowest

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21. Ohio
> 2016 unemployment: 4.9% (tied – 20th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.9% (tied – 22nd lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.0%
> Adults w/ college degree: 26.8% (tied – 15th lowest)

20. Oregon
> 2016 unemployment: 4.9% (tied – 20th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.6% (tied – 17th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.7%
> Adults w/ college degree: 32.2% (15th highest)

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19. New Jersey
> 2016 unemployment: 5.0% (tied – 18th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.8% (tied – 14th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.8%
> Adults w/ college degree: 37.6% (5th highest)

18. Kentucky
> 2016 unemployment: 5.0% (tied – 18th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.3% (tied – 22nd highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.3%
> Adults w/ college degree: 23.3% (5th lowest)

17. North Carolina
> 2016 unemployment: 5.1% (tied – 16th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.8% (tied – 14th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.7%
> Adults w/ college degree: 29.4% (25th lowest)

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16. Connecticut
> 2016 unemployment: 5.1% (tied – 16th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.7% (16th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.6%
> Adults w/ college degree: 38.3% (4th highest)

15. Wyoming
> 2016 unemployment: 5.3% (tied – 13th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 4.2% (tied – 11th lowest)
> Chg. from 2015: 1.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 26.2% (12th lowest)

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14. Rhode Island
> 2016 unemployment: 5.3% (tied – 13th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.0% (tied – 9th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.7%
> Adults w/ college degree: 32.7% (13th highest)

13. Arizona
> 2016 unemployment: 5.3% (tied – 13th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.0% (tied – 9th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.7%
> Adults w/ college degree: 27.7% (18th lowest)

12. Georgia
> 2016 unemployment: 5.4% (tied – 9th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.0% (tied – 9th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.6%
> Adults w/ college degree: 29.9% (23rd highest)

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11. Pennsylvania
> 2016 unemployment: 5.4% (tied – 9th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.3% (tied – 22nd highest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 29.7% (24th highest)

10. California
> 2016 unemployment: 5.4% (tied – 9th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.2% (7th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.8%
> Adults w/ college degree: 32.3% (14th highest)

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9. Washington
> 2016 unemployment: 5.4% (tied – 9th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.6% (tied – 17th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.2%
> Adults w/ college degree: 34.2% (11th highest)

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8. Nevada
> 2016 unemployment: 5.7% (8th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.8% (tied – the highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -1.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 23.6% (6th lowest)

7. Mississippi
> 2016 unemployment: 5.8% (7th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.4% (tied – 4th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.6%
> Adults w/ college degree: 20.8% (2nd lowest)

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6. Illinois
> 2016 unemployment: 5.9% (6th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 5.9% (13th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.0%
> Adults w/ college degree: 32.9% (12th highest)

5. Alabama
> 2016 unemployment: 6.0% (tied – 4th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.1% (8th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 24.2% (7th lowest)

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4. West Virginia
> 2016 unemployment: 6.0% (tied – 4th highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.8% (tied – the highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.8%
> Adults w/ college degree: 19.6% (the lowest)

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3. Louisiana
> 2016 unemployment: 6.1% (3rd highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.3% (6th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: -0.2%)
> Adults w/ college degree: 23.2% (4th lowest)

2. Alaska
> 2016 unemployment: 6.6% (2nd highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.4% (tied – 4th highest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.2%
> Adults w/ college degree: 29.7% (24th highest)

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1. New Mexico
> 2016 unemployment: 6.7% (the highest)
> 2015 unemployment: 6.6% (3rd highest)
> Chg. from 2015: 0.1%
> Adults w/ college degree: 26.5% (13th lowest)