2023 Regional and State Unemployment — 2024-03-01

In 2023, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 6 states, increased in 2 states, and were little changed in 42 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios increased in 10 states and were little changed in 40 states and the District. The U.S. jobless rate was unchanged over the year at 3.6 percent, while the national employment-population ratio rose by 0.3 percentage point to 60.3 percent. In 2023, the West was the only census region to post a change in its annual average unemployment rate from 2022 (+0.2 percentage point). The Midwest, 3.4 percent, and South, 3.3 percent, registered jobless rates lower than the U.S. rate in 2023, while the West, 4.2 percent, had a rate higher than the national figure. The unemployment rates in the Midwest and South were the lowest in their annual average series. All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.