Each Thursday, the Department of Labor Statistics releases its weekly unemployment insurance claims data. The people included in the weekly claims figure have filed to receive unemployment benefits from the government because they have been laid off from their jobs. These claims are filed at the state level. Data is reported by state and nationwide.
Though initial jobless claims reached over 6 million in April 2020, they have declined significantly since. And the state where unemployment insurance claims are plummeting is Missouri. (These are the states where businesses are running out of workers.)
Jobless claims paint a partial picture of the labor market and national economy and are often considered with monthly jobs data from ADP and the monthly jobs report from the BLS. All three have shown a sharp recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic-driven recession. Unemployment has dropped to an extremely low 3.9%. Initial claims have dropped in recent months below 300,000 each week, which is low based on historical trends.
Using BLS data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the state where weekly initial unemployment insurance claims are plummeting. States were ranked by the change in initial jobless claims filed during the week ending on Jan. 15, 2022 and the week ending Jan. 8, 2022. We included the unemployment rate for December 2021. All claims and unemployment data are the most recent available period, and are not seasonally adjusted.
With only five exceptions – Rhode Island, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and California – initial unemployment claims have fallen week over week. No state reported a larger decline in initial unemployment insurance claims than Missouri.
Missori’s job market in general is relatively strong. The overall unemployment rate in the state stands at just 2.7%, more than a full percentage point below the national jobless rate of 3.9%. (This state has the highest unemployment in America.)
Click here to see the states where jobless claims are plummeting
50. Rhode Island
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +29.9% (464 more claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,018
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,554
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.7% – 19th highest
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49. Virginia
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +16.6% (406 more claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,849
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,443
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% – 15th lowest
48. North Carolina
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +8.0% (315 more claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 4,232
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,917
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.2% – 24th lowest
47. Kentucky
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +4.7% (527 more claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 11,772
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,245
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.4% – 23rd highest
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46. California
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +1.3% (805 more claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 62,274
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 61,469
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.0% – 4th highest
45. Kansas
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -0.8% (-25 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,089
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,114
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.2% – 8th lowest
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44. Georgia
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -3.5% (-266 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 7,320
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 7,586
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% – 11th lowest
43. Pennsylvania
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -5.2% (-1,054 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 19,106
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 20,160
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.0% – 16th highest
42. New Hampshire
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -5.5% (-35 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 597
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 632
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.2% – 9th lowest
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41. Arizona
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -7.5% (-249 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,068
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,317
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.8% – 18th lowest
40. Nevada
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -9.3% (-325 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,152
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,477
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.2% – 2nd highest
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39. Illinois
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -9.7% (-1,632 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 15,150
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 16,782
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.3% – 11th highest
38. New Jersey
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -9.9% (-1,643 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 14,882
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 16,525
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.9% – 6th highest
37. Louisiana
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -10.9% (-311 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,550
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,861
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.7% – 18th highest
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36. Nebraska
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -11.2% (-182 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,445
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,627
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.3% – the lowest
35. Ohio
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -11.8% (-2,070 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 15,412
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 17,482
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.4% – 22nd highest
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34. Delaware
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -12.0% (-95 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 695
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 790
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.2% – 12th highest
33. Alabama
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -13.4% (-721 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 4,674
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 5,395
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.8% – 19th lowest
32. West Virginia
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -14.1% (-301 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,841
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,142
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.9% – 21st lowest
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31. Florida
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -14.9% (-1,510 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 8,593
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 10,103
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.2% – 25th lowest
30. Mississippi
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -15.4% (-274 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,507
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,781
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.1% – 23rd lowest
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29. Alaska
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -15.8% (-233 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,242
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,475
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.4% – the highest
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28. Arkansas
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -16.2% (-323 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,673
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,996
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% – 12th lowest
27. Massachusetts
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -17.6% (-2,027 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 9,510
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,537
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.5% – 21st highest
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26. Colorado
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -17.7% (-580 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,701
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,281
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.1% – 13th highest
25. Maryland
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -17.9% (-803 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,689
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 4,492
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.0% – 15th highest
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24. Oklahoma
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -18.8% (-520 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,240
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,760
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.8% – 4th lowest
23. Texas
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -20.0% (-4,773 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 19,064
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 23,837
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.3% – 10th highest
22. Hawaii
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -21.6% (-613 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,223
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,836
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.9% – 5th highest
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21. Vermont
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -21.8% (-198 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 710
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 908
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.2% – 10th lowest
20. New Mexico
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -23.8% (-294 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 939
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,233
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.8% – 7th highest
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19. Indiana
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -24.3% (-2,903 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 9,023
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,926
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.3% – 2nd lowest
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18. Maine
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -24.4% (-392 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,216
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,608
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.0% – 14th highest
17. Tennessee
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -24.7% (-2,350 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 7,145
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 9,495
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.3% – 25th highest
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16. Utah
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -28.4% (-2,303 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,798
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 8,101
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.3% – 3rd lowest
15. Wisconsin
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -29.0% (-4,191 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 10,237
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 14,428
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.0% – 7th lowest
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14. Michigan
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -30.8% (-5,555 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 12,478
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 18,033
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.4% – 9th highest
13. Minnesota
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -30.8% (-2,928 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 6,571
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 9,499
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% – 16th lowest
12. Connecticut
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -31.9% (-2,512 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,373
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 7,885
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.4% – 8th highest
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11. Idaho
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -35.2% (-878 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,615
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,493
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.9% – 5th lowest
10. New York
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -37.3% (-13,854 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 23,255
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 37,109
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.0% – 3rd highest
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9. Iowa
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -39.7% (-1,979 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,006
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 4,985
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.9% – 22nd lowest
8. Wyoming
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -40.2% (-383 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 569
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 952
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% – 13th lowest
7. Oregon
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -43.1% (-4,085 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,386
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 9,471
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.6% – 20th highest
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6. South Dakota
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -45.2% (-252 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 305
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 557
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% – 14th lowest
5. Montana
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -45.7% (-939 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,117
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,056
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.9% – 6th lowest
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4. South Carolina
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -47.9% (-1,944 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,112
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 4,056
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.3% – 24th highest
3. North Dakota
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -48.2% (-692 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 744
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,436
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.8% – 20th lowest
2. Washington
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -51.9% (-6,016 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,577
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,593
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.8% – 17th highest
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1. Missouri
> 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -56.4% (-7,098 fewer claims)
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,487
> Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 12,585
> December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% – 17th lowest
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