This Is the State Where the Most People Are Out of Work

By Douglas A. McIntyre Published Feb 12, 12:17PM EST

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This Is the State Where the Most People Are Out of Work — © Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

After crashing from a five-decade best national jobless rate of 3.5% in February to a multidecade high of 14.7% in April, the figure settled at 6.7% in December. Based on the country’s rate over the last five years, that is still high. The total number of people unemployed in December was 10.73 million compared to 5.84 million in December 2019.

Unemployment rates varied significantly by state according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics State Employment and Unemployment Summary December 2020. For the month, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 15 states, while that dropped in 11, and were the same in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Nonfarm payrolls exclude military, government jobs, and non-profits.

Hawaii and Nevada were the two states with the highest levels in December. Hawaii’s was 9.3% and Nevada’s was 9.2%. Each was attributed to large drop-offs in their essential tourism business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nebraska and South Dakota had the lowest rate at 3%.

24/7 Wall St. concentrated on three figures to examine the jobless rate by state. The first is the civilian labor force. We looked at that number for 2020 and 2019 and the percent change. The state with the largest civilian labor force in December 2020 was California at 18,960,473. The smallest is Wyoming at 294,000. We also looked at the number of people unemployed by state and the change between the two periods. Finally, we looked at the jobless rates in December 2020 and December 2019 and compared them.

Click here to see how many people don’t have jobs in every state.

50. Nebraska
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 31,032
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.0% (15th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 31,152

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49. South Dakota
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 13,997
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 15,772

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48. Iowa
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 50,793
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.8% (11th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 49,338

47. Vermont
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 10,054
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 8,258

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46. Utah
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 60,069
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 39,623

45. Kansas
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 57,688
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.1% (17th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 46,922

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44. Alabama
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.9%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 87,534
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.7% (9th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 61,530

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43. New Hampshire
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 29,922
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.6% (6th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 19,902

42. North Dakota
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 16,663
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 9,629

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41. Arkansas
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 57,224
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 48,186

40. Indiana
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 144,356
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.2% (18th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 107,650

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39. Idaho
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 40,129
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.9% (13th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 25,389

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38. Minnesota
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 131,378
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.3% (20th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 101,893

37. Montana
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 23,714
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 18,716

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36. South Carolina
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 107,253
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 57,279

35. Wyoming
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 14,104
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 10,805

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34. Maine
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.9%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 33,223
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.0% (15th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 20,638

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33. Virginia
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.9%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 209,408
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.7% (9th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 118,618

32. Delaware
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 25,191
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.0% (10th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 19,400

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31. Oklahoma
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 97,352
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 61,982

30. Ohio
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 314,989
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.1% (9th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 236,888

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29. Wisconsin
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 171,694
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 107,553

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28. Georgia
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 286,281
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.1% (17th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 161,706

27. Alaska
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 20,229
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 6.1% (the highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 21,234

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26. Missouri
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 180,137
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 106,372

25. Kentucky
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 120,392
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.3% (8th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 90,284

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24. Florida
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 614,327
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.9% (13th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 297,440

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23. Mississippi
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 78,408
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 5.6% (2nd highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 71,184

22. North Carolina
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 310,675
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.6% (20th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 186,123

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21. Maryland
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 198,384
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 112,013

20. West Virginia
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 48,605
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 5.1% (4th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 40,725

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19. Oregon
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 136,560
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 71,362

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18. Tennessee
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 220,052
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.3% (20th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 111,811

17. Pennsylvania
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.7%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 419,700
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.6% (6th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 303,389

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16. Washington
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 272,530
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.0% (10th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 158,813

15. Louisiana
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 151,160
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 5.2% (3rd highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 108,997

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14. Texas
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 1,025,378
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 495,792

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13. Massachusetts
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 271,787
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.8% (11th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 106,629

12. Arizona
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 268,293
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.5% (7th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 163,303

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11. Michigan
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 358,564
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.9% (12th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 190,994

10. Illinois
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 466,205
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 236,218

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9. New Jersey
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 339,665
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 167,704

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8. Connecticut
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 150,370
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.8% (15th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 72,279

7. Rhode Island
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 44,002
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 19,330

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6. New Mexico
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 76,451
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.8% (5th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 45,728

5. New York
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 744,274
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.9% (12th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 371,454

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4. Colorado
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 269,179
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.5% (5th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 80,339

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3. California
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 9.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 1,700,383
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.9% (12th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 754,716

2. Nevada
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 9.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 136,177
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 57,125

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1. Hawaii
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 9.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 60,676
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.7% (9th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 17,666

About the Author Douglas A. McIntyre →

Douglas A. McIntyre is the co-founder, chief executive officer and editor in chief of 24/7 Wall St. and 24/7 Tempo. He has held these jobs since 2006.

McIntyre has written thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St. He is an expert on corporate finance, the automotive industry, media companies and international finance. He has edited articles on national demographics, sports, personal income and travel.

His work has been quoted or mentioned in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Time, The New Yorker, HuffPost USA Today, Business Insider, Yahoo, AOL, MarketWatch, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian and many other major publications. McIntyre has been a guest on CNBC, the BBC and television and radio stations across the country.

A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, McIntyre also was president of The Harvard Advocate. Founded in 1866, the Advocate is the oldest college publication in the United States.

TheStreet.com, Comps.com and Edgar Online are some of the public companies for which McIntyre served on the board of directors. He was a Vicinity Corporation board member when the company was sold to Microsoft in 2002. He served on the audit committees of some of these companies.

McIntyre has been the CEO of FutureSource, a provider of trading terminals and news to commodities and futures traders. He was president of Switchboard, the online phone directory company. He served as chairman and CEO of On2 Technologies, the video compression company that provided video compression software for Adobe’s Flash. Google bought On2 in 2009.