US States With The Lowest Unemployment Rates

The unemployment rate refers to a percentage of the workforce that is unemployed. Individuals are considered to be unemployed if they are not working even though they are willing and able to work. The unemployment rate of the U.S. was 3.5% in September 2019. The number of jobless Americans decreased in September 2019 was 5.8million. The unemployment rate of the U.S. has averaged at 5.73% from 1948 to 2019. It reached its all-time low of 2.5% in May 1953 and peaked at 10.8% in November 1982.

Top 10 American states With The Lowest Unemployment Rates

Vermont

Vermont had the lowest unemployment rate in September 2019. The unemployment rate of Vermont remained constant at 2.1% from May 2019 to August 2019 before increasing to 2.2% in September 2019. Vermont’s rate was 1.3 percentage points lower than the national unemployment rate for September. In the last decade, Vermont’s unemployment rate has troughed at 2.1% (May 2019) and peaked at 6.9% (April 2009). The number of jobless individuals in Vermont troughed at 7,246 people (June 2019) and peaked at 25,059 people (May 2009) in the last 10years. The number of unemployed Vermonters increased from 7,413 in August 2019 to 7,584 people in September 2019.

Iowa

Iowa had the second lowest unemployment rates in the country of 2.5% in September 2019. Iowa’s unemployment rate remained constant at 2.4% from January to June 2019 before increasing to 2.5% in July 2019. The number of jobless Iowans increased from 43,770 people in August 2019 to 44,221 in September 2019. The unemployment rate of Iowa was 1percentage point lower than the national unemployment rate for September. In the last decade, Iowa’s unemployment rate troughed at 2.4% (July 2018) and peaked at 6.6% in May 2009. The number of jobless Iowans peaked at 111,837 people in June 2009 and troughed at 39,963 people (September 2018).    

North Dakota

The unemployment rate of North Dakota increased from 2.4% in August 2019 to 2.5% in September 2019, accounting for 9,911 jobless North Dakotans. The unemployment rate of North Dakota in September 2019 was 1percentage point lower than the country’s rate. In the last decade, North Dakota’s unemployment rate troughed at 2.3% (March 2019) and peaked at 4.3% (April 2009). The number of jobless North Dakotans peaked at 15,724 people in April 2009 before dropping to a recent low of 9,339 people (April 2019).

New Hampshire

The unemployment rate of New Hampshire has remained constant at 2.5% from June 2019 to September 2019, accounting for about 19,562 unemployed people. New Hampshire’s rate was 1percentage point lower than the country’s unemployment rate for September. In the last decade, New Hampshire’s unemployment rate peaked at 6.5% in May 2009 and troughed in September 2018 at 2.4%. The number of jobless people peaked at 48,715 individuals in June 2009 and troughed in February 2019 at 18,263.  

Utah

The unemployment rate of Utah has been decreasing from 3.1% in January 2019 to 2.7% in September 2019, with the number of unemployed individuals dropping from 49,385 to 43,367, respectively. Utah’s unemployment rate was 0.8percentage points lower than the country rate for September 2019. In the last 10years, Utah’s unemployment rate peaked at 8% in March 2019, and it 5.3 percentage points lower than the national unemployment rate in September 2019. The number of unemployed Utahns has been decreasing since April 2010 when it peaked at 108,083 people.

Colorado

Colorado was listed among the top 10 American states with the lowest unemployment rates in September 2019. Colorado’s unemployment rate has been decreasing from 3.7% in January 2019 to 2.7% in September. The number of unemployed individuals has also dropped from 116,777 people in January to 85,275 people in September 2019. In the last 10years, Colorado’s rate has peaked at 8.9% in September 2010 and troughed at 2.6% (February 2017). The number of jobless people peaked at 243,221 people in October 2010 and troughed in April 2017 at 76,631 people.

Virginia

Virginia’s unemployment rate increased from 2.8% (January 2019) to 3% (May 2019) before decreasing to 2.7% in September 2019. The number of unemployed people decreased from 122,574 in August to 119,008 people in September 2019. Virginia’s rate was 0.8percentage points higher than the country’s unemployment rate in September 2019. In the last decade, Virginia’s unemployment rate troughed at 2.6% (October 2019) and peaked at 7.5% in February 2010. The total number of unemployed Virginians also peaked at 307,516 in February 2010.

Hawaii

Other than being one of the last American states to gain statehood, Hawaii is one of the U.S. states with the lowest unemployment rate. Hawaii’s unemployment rate decreased from 3% in May 2019 to 2.7% in September 2019. The number of jobless individuals decreased from 17,995people in August 2019 to 17,763 people in September 2019. The unemployment rate for September 2019 is 0.8percentage points lower than the country’s rate. In the last decade, Hawaii’s unemployment rate has troughed at 2.2% (October 2017) and peaked at 7.3% in May 2009. Hawaii recorded the highest number of unemployed individuals in July 2009 (46,338) and the lowest in November 2017 (15,297).

South Carolina

The unemployment rate of South Carolina decreased from 3.2% in August 2019 to 2.9% in September 2019. The number of unemployed individuals also decreased from 77,309people (August 2019) to 69,186 people (September 2019). South Carolina’s rate was 0.6percentage points lower than the national unemployment rate in September 2019. The unemployment rate of South Carolina peaked at 11.7% in December 2009, and by September 2019, it had dropped by 8.8percentage points. In the last decade, the number of unemployed South Carolinas peaked at 251,269 people in January 2010.

Maine

Other than being the northernmost state in the northeastern parts of the country, Maine was ranked among the states with the lowest unemployment rate in September 2019. The unemployment rate of Maine has been reducing in 2019 from 3.5% in January to 2.9% in September. The number of unemployed individuals has also dropped from 24,562 people in January 2019 to 19,697 people in September 2019. In the last decade, Maine’s unemployment rate troughed in October 2019 at 2.8% and peaked at 8.3% in June 2009. The number of unemployed individuals peaked at 57,483 people in June 2009.