On Friday, November 18th, 2022, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its breakdown of the unemployment rates for each individual state for October.
In the chart below, the lightest colors represent the states with the lowest unemployment rates.
Looking at the above map, we can see that generally, the lowest unemployment states run diagonally across the country, starting in Florida and ending in Montana and Idaho. Conversely, the states with the highest unemployment are located in the North East, the South West, and West Coast. Of course, minor exceptions exist, but generally, it holds.
October 2022 Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rate by State Table (Alphabetical)
| State | October 2022(P) Rate |
| Alabama | 2.7 |
| Alaska | 4.5 |
| Arizona | 3.9 |
| Arkansas | 3.6 |
| California | 4.0 |
| Colorado | 3.6 |
| Connecticut | 4.3 |
| Delaware | 4.3 |
| District of Columbia | 4.8 |
| Florida | 2.7 |
| Georgia | 2.9 |
| Hawaii | 3.4 |
| Idaho | 2.9 |
| Illinois | 4.6 |
| Indiana | 3.0 |
| Iowa | 2.9 |
| Kansas | 2.8 |
| Kentucky | 3.9 |
| Louisiana | 3.3 |
| Maine | 3.6 |
| Maryland | 4.5 |
| Massachusetts | 3.5 |
| Michigan | 4.2 |
| Minnesota | 2.1 |
| Mississippi | 3.8 |
| Missouri | 2.6 |
| Montana | 3.0 |
| Nebraska | 2.4 |
| Nevada | 4.6 |
| New Hampshire | 2.4 |
| New Jersey | 3.5 |
| New Mexico | 4.3 |
| New York | 4.4 |
| North Carolina | 3.8 |
| North Dakota | 2.3 |
| Ohio | 4.2 |
| Oklahoma | 3.4 |
| Oregon | 4.1 |
| Pennsylvania | 4.0 |
| Rhode Island | 3.4 |
| South Carolina | 3.3 |
| South Dakota | 2.4 |
| Tennessee | 3.5 |
| Texas | 4.0 |
| Utah | 2.1 |
| Vermont | 2.3 |
| Virginia | 2.7 |
| Washington | 3.8 |
| West Virginia | 4.0 |
| Wisconsin | 3.3 |
| Wyoming | 3.5 |
States with the Highest Unemployment Rates
The record for the highest unemployment goes as usual to the State that is not really a “state”, i.e., D.C. at 4.8%. Puerto Rico is usually ranked among those with the worst unemployment but avoided that “honor” this month by not having its data available. Slightly better than D.C. is Nevada and Illinois at 4.6%, followed by Maryland, and Alaska at 4.5%.
States with the Lowest Unemployment
The prize for the lowest unemployment goes to Minnesota and Utah at 2.1% followed by North Dakota and Vermont at 2.3%. Nebraska fell from first place back in May to 5th place in October at 2.4%, tied with New Hampshire, and South Dakota.
| State | October 2022 |
| Minnesota | 2.1 |
| Utah | 2.1 |
| North Dakota | 2.3 |
| Vermont | 2.3 |
| Nebraska | 2.4 |
| New Hampshire | 2.4 |
| South Dakota | 2.4 |
| Missouri | 2.6 |
| Alabama | 2.7 |
| Florida | 2.7 |
| Virginia | 2.7 |
| Kansas | 2.8 |
| Georgia | 2.9 |
| Idaho | 2.9 |
| Iowa | 2.9 |
| Indiana | 3 |
| Montana | 3 |
| Louisiana | 3.3 |
| South Carolina | 3.3 |
| Wisconsin | 3.3 |
| Hawaii | 3.4 |
| Oklahoma | 3.4 |
| Rhode Island | 3.4 |
| Massachusetts | 3.5 |
| New Jersey | 3.5 |
| Tennessee | 3.5 |
| Wyoming | 3.5 |
| Arkansas | 3.6 |
| Colorado | 3.6 |
| Maine | 3.6 |
| Mississippi | 3.8 |
| North Carolina | 3.8 |
| Washington | 3.8 |
| Arizona | 3.9 |
| Kentucky | 3.9 |
| California | 4 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 |
| Texas | 4 |
| West Virginia | 4 |
| Oregon | 4.1 |
| Michigan | 4.2 |
| Ohio | 4.2 |
| Connecticut | 4.3 |
| Delaware | 4.3 |
| New Mexico | 4.3 |
| New York | 4.4 |
| Alaska | 4.5 |
| Maryland | 4.5 |
| Illinois | 4.6 |
| Nevada | 4.6 |
| District of Columbia | 4.8 |
Most Improved
This month, with most states getting worse, three states actually improved, they are Hawaii, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. On the other hand, Maryland was the worst performer, with unemployment increasing by 0.5%.
| State | September 22 rate | October 22 rate | Over-the-month Change |
| Hawaii | 3.5 | 3.4 | -0.1 |
| Louisiana | 3.4 | 3.3 | -0.1 |
| Pennsylvania | 4.1 | 4 | -0.1 |
| Delaware | 4.3 | 4.3 | 0 |
| Texas | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Utah | 2.1 | 2.1 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Alabama | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 |
| Alaska | 4.4 | 4.5 | 0.1 |
| Arkansas | 3.5 | 3.6 | 0.1 |
| District of Columbia | 4.7 | 4.8 | 0.1 |
| Georgia | 2.8 | 2.9 | 0.1 |
| Idaho | 2.8 | 2.9 | 0.1 |
| Illinois | 4.5 | 4.6 | 0.1 |
| Kentucky | 3.8 | 3.9 | 0.1 |
| Massachusetts | 3.4 | 3.5 | 0.1 |
| Michigan | 4.1 | 4.2 | 0.1 |
| Minnesota | 2 | 2.1 | 0.1 |
| Montana | 2.9 | 3 | 0.1 |
| New Mexico | 4.2 | 4.3 | 0.1 |
| New York | 4.3 | 4.4 | 0.1 |
| North Dakota | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.1 |
| South Carolina | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.1 |
| South Dakota | 2.3 | 2.4 | 0.1 |
| Tennessee | 3.4 | 3.5 | 0.1 |
| Virginia | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.1 |
| Washington | 3.7 | 3.8 | 0.1 |
| Wisconsin | 3.2 | 3.3 | 0.1 |
| Arizona | 3.7 | 3.9 | 0.2 |
| California | 3.8 | 4 | 0.2 |
| Colorado | 3.4 | 3.6 | 0.2 |
| Florida | 2.5 | 2.7 | 0.2 |
| Indiana | 2.8 | 3 | 0.2 |
| Iowa | 2.7 | 2.9 | 0.2 |
| Kansas | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.2 |
| Mississippi | 3.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 |
| Missouri | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.2 |
| Nebraska | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.2 |
| Nevada | 4.4 | 4.6 | 0.2 |
| New Hampshire | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.2 |
| New Jersey | 3.3 | 3.5 | 0.2 |
| North Carolina | 3.6 | 3.8 | 0.2 |
| Ohio | 4 | 4.2 | 0.2 |
| Oklahoma | 3.2 | 3.4 | 0.2 |
| Vermont | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.2 |
| Wyoming | 3.3 | 3.5 | 0.2 |
| Connecticut | 4 | 4.3 | 0.3 |
| Maine | 3.3 | 3.6 | 0.3 |
| Oregon | 3.8 | 4.1 | 0.3 |
| Rhode Island | 3.1 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
| Maryland | 4 | 4.5 | 0.5 |
You might also like:
- October 2022 BLS Employment Report
- May 2022- Unemployment by State
- Annual Inflation Retreats in October
- Is the U.S. Dollar Hegemony Ending?
- Latest Recession Alarm
- Housing Is Getting Less Affordable
- Banks Are Becoming More Cautious About Lending
- Warning Signs You’re On the Road to Financial Catastrophe
- Money Habits That Can Help You Retire Early
