State rankings

Employment Rate by State

South Dakota has the highest Employment Rate (98.1%), followed by Nebraska (97.9%) and North Dakota (97.9%). Nevada has the lowest (94.5%).

Economics51 states · 1 metricUpdated Jul 3, 2023Original page
1 source
Employment RateBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
51 of 51 states
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Employment Rate

Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 51 ranked

Best first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
96.6%
Middle half 96.2% – 97.3%
Average
96.7%
51 states
Highest
98.1%
South Dakota
Lowest
94.5%
Nevada

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

51 states · # = rank by Employment Rate
#
1South Dakota98.1%
2Nebraska97.9%
2North Dakota97.9%
4Alabama97.7%
4Montana97.7%
6Utah97.6%
6New Hampshire97.6%
8Missouri97.5%
8Wisconsin97.5%
10Florida97.4%
10Idaho97.4%
10Maine97.4%
13Maryland97.3%
13Vermont97.3%
15Colorado97.2%
15Minnesota97.2%
15Iowa97.2%
18Kansas97.1%
19Oklahoma97.0%
19Arkansas97.0%
21Georgia96.9%
21Indiana96.9%
21Rhode Island96.9%
24Virginia96.8%
24South Carolina96.8%
26Tennessee96.6%
26West Virginia96.6%
28North Carolina96.5%
28New Jersey96.5%
28Arizona96.5%
28Massachusetts96.5%
28Mississippi96.5%
28New Mexico96.5%
28Hawaii96.5%
35Louisiana96.4%
36Alaska96.3%
36Wyoming96.3%
38Ohio96.2%
38Kentucky96.2%
40Texas96.0%
40Connecticut96.0%
42New York95.9%
42Michigan95.9%
44Pennsylvania95.8%
45California95.6%
45Illinois95.6%
45Oregon95.6%
45Delaware95.6%
49Washington95.5%
50District of Columbia95.2%
51Nevada94.5%

What correlates with Employment Rate?

Pearson r against 2,096 other state metrics sharing at least 31 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Employment Rate tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Supplies RankBest States for FishingA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.62 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  2. Work Environment RankHappiest StatesA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.61 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. SocioeconomicsBest States to Raise a FamilyA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.60 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. OpportunityBest States to Live InA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = −0.58 · strong · n = 49
    Plot
  5. Opportunity RankWorst States to Live inA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = +0.55 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Family-RelatedMost Stressed StatesA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = +0.54 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Employment Rate tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. U-6 Unemployment Rate Q3 2022U6 Employment Rate
    r = −0.86 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  2. U-6 Unemployment Rate Q2 2022U6 Employment Rate
    r = −0.86 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  3. U-6 Unemployment Rate Q3 2021U6 Employment Rate
    r = −0.77 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  4. Unemployment Rate JulyUnemployment Rate by State
    r = −0.74 · very strong · n = 51
    Plot
  5. DisabledSocial Security Disability Benefits by State
    r = −0.66 · strong · n = 51
    Plot
  6. Age 18-64Social Security Disability Benefits by State
    r = −0.64 · strong · n = 51
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Employment Rate?
South Dakota has the highest Employment Rate, at 98.1%, followed by Nebraska (97.9%) and North Dakota (97.9%).
Which state has the lowest Employment Rate?
Nevada has the lowest Employment Rate, at 94.5%.
What is the median Employment Rate across US states?
The median is 96.6% across the 51 US states with data.
Where does this employment rate by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Current Unemployment Rates for States and Historical Highs/Lows - US Bureau of Labor Statistics.