The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an unemployment crisis of historic magnitude. The national jobless rate more than tripled in a single month from 4.4% in March 2020 to 14.8% in April — a high not seen since the Great Depression. The majority of those jobs have since returned, and white members of the labor force have benefited disproportionately during the economic recovery.
According to a recent report from the Economic Policy Institute, the jobless rate among white Americans in the second quarter of 2021 was either lower than or equal to the overall jobless rate in nearly every state. Meanwhile, in much of the country, Hispanic and Black Americans are far more likely to be out of work compared to white workers.
Using Q2 2021 unemployment data from the EPI, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the unemployment rate for white Americans in every state. To further highlight economic disparities, we also considered for our list the median household income for Black and white households from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. For another perspective, here is a look at the best and worst states to be unemployed in.
Due to a range of historical factors, unemployment is only one of many socioeconomic measures that demonstrate inequality along racial lines in the United States. For example, white households are more likely to be financially secure and have higher incomes in much of the country than the broader population as a whole. The typical white household in the U.S. earns $69,823 a year, compared to the median income of $65,712 across all households.
Currently, the unemployment rate among whites ranges from 2.1% to 9.4%, depending on the state.
Click here to see the white unemployment rate in every state.
Alabama
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.2% — 7th lowest (3.8% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.4% — 7th lowest (4.0% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $59,727 — 9th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $51,734 — 5th lowest
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Alaska
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.8% — 16th highest, tied (4.4% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.6% — 12th highest, tied (6.6% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $82,171 — 7th highest
> Median household income, all households: $75,463 — 12th highest
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Arizona
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.0% — 7th highest (5.8% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.7% — 11th highest (6.8% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $63,828 — 21st lowest
> Median household income, all households: $62,055 — 23rd lowest
Arkansas
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.9% — 21st lowest (4.2% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.4% — 18th lowest (4.5% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $52,488 — 2nd lowest
> Median household income, all households: $48,952 — 3rd lowest
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California
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.3% — 5th highest (7.2% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.8% — 6th highest (8.6% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $82,706 — 6th highest
> Median household income, all households: $80,440 — 5th highest
Colorado
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.7% — 19th highest, tied (5.1% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.3% — 14th highest (6.5% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $80,121 — 10th highest
> Median household income, all households: $77,127 — 9th highest
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Connecticut
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.8% — 2nd highest (7.7% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 8.0% — 2nd highest, tied (8.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $85,849 — 4th highest
> Median household income, all households: $78,833 — 6th highest
Delaware
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.8% — 16th highest, tied (4.8% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.0% — 18th highest (6.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $75,469 — 15th highest
> Median household income, all households: $70,176 — 16th highest
Florida
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.5% — 17th lowest, tied (3.5% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.9% — 24th lowest (4.7% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $62,132 — 16th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $59,227 — 17th lowest
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Georgia
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.3% — 11th lowest, tied (3.8% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.1% — 16th lowest, tied (4.8% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $70,832 — 18th highest
> Median household income, all households: $61,980 — 22nd lowest
Hawaii
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 8.8% — the highest (9.4% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 8.1% — the highest (9.5% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $84,757 — 5th highest
> Median household income, all households: $83,102 — 4th highest
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Idaho
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.9% — 5th lowest, tied (3.2% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.0% — 6th lowest, tied (3.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $61,761 — 14th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $60,999 — 20th lowest
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Illinois
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.7% — 9th highest, tied (6.1% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.1% — 8th highest, tied (7.4% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $74,728 — 16th highest
> Median household income, all households: $69,187 — 17th highest
Indiana
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.6% — 19th lowest, tied (3.7% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.0% — 14th lowest, tied (4.0% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $61,054 — 12th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $57,603 — 14th lowest
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Iowa
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.3% — 11th lowest, tied (3.2% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.9% — 12th lowest, tied (3.7% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $63,379 — 19th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $61,691 — 21st lowest
Kansas
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.4% — 15th lowest, tied (3.5% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.6% — 8th lowest (3.6% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $65,008 — 23rd lowest
> Median household income, all households: $62,087 — 24th lowest
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Kentucky
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.4% — 23rd highest (4.6% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.5% — 20th lowest, tied (5.2% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $54,089 — 3rd lowest
> Median household income, all households: $52,295 — 7th lowest
Louisiana
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.1% — 12th highest, tied (5.3% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.1% — 8th highest, tied (7.5% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $61,456 — 13th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $51,073 — 4th lowest
Maine
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.8% — 16th highest, tied (4.8% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.8% — 23rd lowest, tied (4.9% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $59,327 — 8th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $58,924 — 16th lowest
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Maryland
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.7% — 19th highest, tied (5.0% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.2% — 15th highest, tied (6.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $96,724 — the highest
> Median household income, all households: $86,738 — the highest
Massachusetts
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.3% — 24th highest, tied (6.0% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.4% — 21st highest, tied (7.2% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $90,758 — 3rd highest
> Median household income, all households: $85,843 — 2nd highest
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Michigan
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.3% — 24th highest, tied (4.6% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.0% — 24th highest, tied (5.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $63,326 — 18th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $59,584 — 19th lowest
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Minnesota
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.0% — 22nd lowest (4.5% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.0% — 14th lowest, tied (4.4% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $77,311 — 14th highest
> Median household income, all households: $74,593 — 13th highest
Mississippi
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.4% — 15th lowest, tied (3.7% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.2% — 15th highest, tied (6.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $57,191 — 5th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $45,792 — the lowest
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Missouri
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.6% — 19th lowest, tied (3.7% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.2% — 17th lowest (4.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $60,756 — 11th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $57,409 — 13th lowest
Montana
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.3% — 11th lowest, tied (3.6% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.7% — 9th lowest (3.9% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $58,934 — 7th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $57,153 — 11th lowest
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Nebraska
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.1% — 2nd lowest (2.6% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.6% — the lowest (3.1% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $65,462 — 24th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $63,229 — 25th highest
Nevada
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.4% — 4th highest (6.6% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.9% — 4th highest, tied (8.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $67,415 — 23rd highest
> Median household income, all households: $63,276 — 24th highest
New Hampshire
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.1% — 6th lowest (3.3% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.9% — 4th lowest (3.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $77,519 — 13th highest
> Median household income, all households: $77,933 — 8th highest
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New Jersey
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.6% — 3rd highest (6.6% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.3% — 7th highest (7.8% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $91,764 — 2nd highest
> Median household income, all households: $85,751 — 3rd highest
New Mexico
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.2% — 6th highest (6.2% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 8.0% — 2nd highest, tied (8.4% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $54,315 — 4th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $51,945 — 6th lowest
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New York
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.7% — 9th highest, tied (6.7% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.9% — 4th highest, tied (8.7% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $80,589 — 9th highest
> Median household income, all households: $72,108 — 14th highest
North Carolina
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.5% — 17th lowest, tied (4.0% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.8% — 23rd lowest, tied (5.6% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $63,887 — 22nd lowest
> Median household income, all households: $57,341 — 12th lowest
North Dakota
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.4% — 15th lowest, tied (3.7% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.1% — 16th lowest, tied (4.6% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $68,431 — 19th highest
> Median household income, all households: $64,577 — 20th highest
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Ohio
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.2% — 25th lowest, tied (4.0% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.0% — 24th highest, tied (5.0% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $62,550 — 17th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $58,642 — 15th lowest
Oklahoma
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.3% — 11th lowest, tied (2.9% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.9% — 12th lowest, tied (4.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $58,300 — 6th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $54,449 — 8th lowest
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Oregon
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.0% — 14th highest, tied (5.4% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.8% — 19th highest (6.1% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $67,845 — 21st highest
> Median household income, all households: $67,058 — 18th highest
Pennsylvania
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.8% — 8th highest (5.6% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 7.0% — 10th highest (7.3% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $67,702 — 22nd highest
> Median household income, all households: $63,463 — 23rd highest
Rhode Island
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.1% — 12th highest, tied (6.1% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.1% — 17th highest (7.2% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $74,544 — 17th highest
> Median household income, all households: $71,169 — 15th highest
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South Carolina
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.1% — 23rd lowest (4.3% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.7% — 21st lowest (5.2% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $65,506 — 25th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $56,227 — 10th lowest
South Dakota
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.0% — the lowest (2.1% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.8% — 3rd lowest (3.0% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $62,128 — 15th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $59,533 — 18th lowest
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Tennessee
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.2% — 25th lowest, tied (4.3% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.0% — 24th highest, tied (5.0% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $60,249 — 10th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $56,071 — 9th lowest
Texas
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.6% — 21st highest, tied (4.9% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 6.6% — 12th highest, tied (6.9% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $67,904 — 20th highest
> Median household income, all households: $64,034 — 22nd highest
Utah
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.5% — 3rd lowest (2.5% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.7% — 2nd lowest (3.0% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $77,772 — 12th highest
> Median household income, all households: $75,780 — 11th highest
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Vermont
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 2.9% — 5th lowest, tied (3.1% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.0% — 6th lowest, tied (3.0% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $63,425 — 20th lowest
> Median household income, all households: $63,001 — 25th lowest
Virginia
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.7% — 20th lowest (3.8% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.5% — 20th lowest, tied (5.2% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $82,107 — 8th highest
> Median household income, all households: $76,456 — 10th highest
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Washington
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.0% — 14th highest, tied (5.5% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.3% — 23rd highest (5.7% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $79,556 — 11th highest
> Median household income, all households: $78,687 — 7th highest
West Virginia
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.2% — 11th highest (5.8% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.5% — 20th highest (6.2% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $49,295 — the lowest
> Median household income, all households: $48,850 — 2nd lowest
Wisconsin
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.4% — 15th lowest, tied (3.1% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 3.9% — 12th lowest, tied (3.8% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $67,006 — 24th highest
> Median household income, all households: $64,168 — 21st highest
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Wyoming
> White unemployment, Q2 2021: 4.6% — 21st highest, tied (4.5% Q1 2021)
> Overall unemployment, Q2 2021: 5.4% — 21st highest, tied (5.2% Q1 2021)
> Median household income, white households: $66,807 — 25th highest
> Median household income, all households: $65,003 — 19th highest
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