2021 Regional and State Unemployment — 2022-03-02

In 2021, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 49 states and the District of Columbia, while the rate was little changed in 1 state, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios increased in 38 states and the District, decreased in 1 state, and were little changed in 11 states. The U.S. jobless rate declined by 2.8 percentage points from the prior year to 5.3 percent, while the national employment-population ratio rose by 1.6 points to 58.4 percent. Unemployment rates decreased from 2020 in all four regions: the Northeast (-2.9 percentage points), the Midwest and West (-2.8 points each), and the South (-2.4 points). The Midwest, 4.7 percent, and South, 4.8 percent, registered jobless rates lower than the U.S. rate in 2021, while the Northeast and West, 6.3 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively, had rates higher than the national figure.