Local Area Unemployment Statistics Home Page

The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program produces monthly and annual employment, unemployment, and labor force data for Census regions and divisions, States, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities, by place of residence.

General Overview
Economic News Releases
Special Notices
Get Detailed LAUS Statistics
Tables and Maps Created by BLS
Publications and Other Documentation
Related Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Us

General Overview:

Overview

Economic News Releases:

Current

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (HTML)(PDF)
Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (HTML)(PDF)
Subscribe to the BLS News Service-- receive BLS economic news releases by e-mail.
Schedule of Upcoming Releases

Annual

Regional and State Unemployment (Annual) (HTML) (PDF)

Archived

Caution: data in many archived news releases have been revised in subsequent releases.

Archived Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Releases (1993-forward)
Archived Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Releases (1998-forward)

Special Notice:

Important Information on Local Area Unemployment Statistics database series

Get Detailed LAUS Statistics:

Please note that the "Get Detailed LAUS Statistics" tools for data retrieval will be unavailable from 10:00 AM to approximately 10:30 AM on the day of a Local Area Unemployment Statistics release because the LAUS database is updated during that time. A schedule of upcoming release dates is available at www.bls.gov/lau/lausched.htm.

Instructions for Extracting Data--Quick, easy instructions on how to extract Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data.
Create Customized Maps--Create a map showing unemployment rates or changes in rates by State, metropolitan area, or county. Note that data are not displayed for the recently designated Lake Havasu City-Kingman, Arizona, and Palm Coast, Florida, metropolitan areas, nor for the newly renamed Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida metropolitan area. Also note that the titles for metropolitan areas displayed in the maps and in the data tables below the maps do not yet reflect the changes issued by the Office of Management and Budget on December 18, 2006, and November 20, 2007.
Most Requested Statistics--Select from lists of the most popular Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
Create Customized Tables (one screen)--This application requires a Java-enabled browser. Choose the data you want from BLS databases on a simple, one-screen form.
Create Customized Tables (multiple screens)--A form-based query application which allows you to obtain BLS time series data based on choices you make.
Series Report--Already know the series identifier for the statistic you want? Use this shortcut to retrieve your data.
Flat files FTP Site--For those who want it all. Download a flat file of the entire database or large subset of the database.

Tables and Maps Created by BLS:

Monthly

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly)

Supplemental Tables

Supplemental Map

Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly)

Supplemental Tables

Supplemental Map

Latest Twelve-Month Average

COUNTY DATA

Maps

Unemployment rates by county (GIF) (PDF)

NEW ENGLAND DATA BY
MINOR CIVIL DIVISION

Maps

Unemployment rates by Minor Civil Division (GIF) (PDF)

Annual Average

STATEWIDE DATA

Tables

Unemployment rates for States:
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for States:

Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by state
Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment, Section II: Estimates for States, 2003
Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population in states by sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and detailed age (preliminary):

2007 Annual Averages (PDF 192K)
2006 Annual Averages (PDF 165K)
2005 Annual Averages (PDF 164K)

Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population in states by sex, race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, marital status, and detailed age:

2004 Annual Averages (PDF 276K)
2003 Annual Averages (PDF 264K)

Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population in states by sex, detailed age, race, and Hispanic origin:

2002 Annual Averages (PDF 169K)
2001 Annual Averages (PDF 179K)
2000 Annual Averages (PDF 158K)
1999 Annual Averages (PDF 122K)

Notes on using data

Maps

Latest annual average State unemployment rates (GIF) (PDF)
Latest over-the-year change in unemployment rates by State (GIF) (PDF)
Latest employment-population ratios by State (GIF) (PDF)
Historical State unemployment rate maps (ZIP 732K) (PDF 3,292K)
How to View Zip Files

METROPOLITAN AREA DATA

Tables

Unemployment rates for metropolitan areas:
- 2007 NEW
- 2006 UPDATED
- 2005 UPDATED
- 2004 UPDATED
- 2003 UPDATED
- 2002 UPDATED
- 2001 UPDATED
- 2000 UPDATED
Unemployment rates for large metropolitan areas:
- 2007 NEW
- 2006 UPDATED
- 2005 UPDATED
- 2004 UPDATED
- 2003 UPDATED
- 2002 UPDATED
- 2001 UPDATED
- 2000 UPDATED
Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for metropolitan areas:
- 2006-2007 NEW
- 2005-2006 UPDATED
- 2004-2005 UPDATED
- 2003-2004 UPDATED
- 2002-2003 UPDATED
- 2001-2002 UPDATED
- 2000-2001 UPDATED
Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for large metropolitan areas:
- 2005-2006 UPDATED
- 2004-2005 UPDATED
- 2003-2004 UPDATED
- 2002-2003 UPDATED
- 2001-2002 UPDATED
- 2000-2001 UPDATED
Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment, Section III: Estimates for metropolitan areas and cities, 2003

Maps

Latest annual average metropolitan area unemployment rates (GIF) (PDF)
Historical metropolitan area unemployment rates (ZIP 1,303KB)(PDF 1,661KB)

How to View Zip Files

COUNTY DATA

Tables

Labor force data by county, 2007 annual averages (TXT, ZIP167KB) NEW
Labor force data by county, 2006 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB) UPDATED
Labor force data by county, 2005 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB) UPDATED
Labor force data by county, 2004 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB) UPDATED
Labor force data by county, 2003 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 164KB) UPDATED
Labor force data by county, 2002 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 168KB) UPDATED
Labor force data by county, 2001 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 168KB) UPDATED
Labor force data by county, 2000 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB) UPDATED
Labor force data by county, 1999 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1998 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1997 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1996 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1995 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1994 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1993 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1992 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1991 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 1990 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)

Maps

Latest annual average county unemployment rates (GIF) (PDF)
Historical county unemployment rates (ZIP 2,611KB) (PDF 3,517KB)
How to View Zip Files

NEW ENGLAND DATA BY
MINOR CIVIL DIVISION

Maps

Latest annual average Minor Civil Division unemployment rates (GIF) (PDF)
Historical Minor Civil Division unemployment rates (ZIP 2,644KB) (PDF 2,744KB)
How to View Zip Files

CITY DATA

Tables

Unemployment rates for the 50 largest cities
- 2007 NEW
- 2006 UPDATED
- 2005 UPDATED
- 2004 UPDATED
- 2003 UPDATED
- 2002 UPDATED
- 2001 UPDATED
- 2000 UPDATED
Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment, Section III: Estimates for metropolitan areas and cities, 2003

Publications and Other Documentation:

American Community Survey (ACS) Questions and Answers
Information on Model-Based Error Measures for Regions, Divisions, and States
Changes to State and local area labor force estimation in 2005
Administrative Uses of Local Area Unemployment (PDF 55 K)
Labor Market Area Directory, 2008 (PDF 759 K)
Data Availability
LAUS Estimation Methodology
Labor Force Concepts (PDF 102 K)
Geographic Concepts
Definitions of Areatypes
Seasonal Adjustment
Differences Between Data Series
Differences Between Decennial Census and LAUS Data
Region and Division Labor Force Data FAQs
Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment, 2003

Other Useful Links

Information about Unemployment Insurance--this Department of Labor site provides links to local One-Stop services

People Are Asking...

1. Does LAUS have information on labor force participation rates and employment-population ratios?

2. What is the relationship between the LAUS and American Community Survey labor force estimates?

3. Where can I get more information on the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Local Area Unemployment Statistics?

4. What changes were made to State and local area labor force estimates?

5. Where can I find information on metropolitan areas, including recent changes?

6. What areas have the highest or lowest unemployment rates?

7. How can I apply for unemployment insurance?

8. Where can I find out if my unemployment insurance benefits will be extended?

9. Since you do not have the data I need, where can I get them?

Send us your question

Regional Resources

Pick a state from the list.

Latest Numbers

Unemployment Rates, seasonally adjusted

Alabama
4.1%(p) in Mar 2008

Alaska
6.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Arizona
4.0%(p) in Mar 2008

Arkansas
4.9%(p) in Mar 2008

California
6.2%(p) in Mar 2008

Colorado
4.4%(p) in Mar 2008

Connecticut
5.3%(p) in Mar 2008

Delaware
3.8%(p) in Mar 2008

D.C.
6.2%(p) in Mar 2008

Florida
4.9%(p) in Mar 2008

Georgia
5.3%(p) in Mar 2008

Hawaii
3.1%(p) in Mar 2008

Idaho
3.0%(p) in Mar 2008

Illinois
5.5%(p) in Mar 2008

Indiana
5.1%(p) in Mar 2008

Iowa
3.5%(p) in Mar 2008

Kansas
4.1%(p) in Mar 2008

Kentucky
5.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Louisiana
4.5%(p) in Mar 2008

Maine
5.0%(p) in Mar 2008

Maryland
3.6%(p) in Mar 2008

Massachusetts
4.4%(p) in Mar 2008

Michigan
7.2%(p) in Mar 2008

Minnesota
4.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Mississippi
6.0%(p) in Mar 2008

Missouri
5.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Montana
3.6%(p) in Mar 2008

Nebraska
2.9%(p) in Mar 2008

Nevada
5.8%(p) in Mar 2008

New Hampshire
3.9%(p) in Mar 2008

New Jersey
4.8%(p) in Mar 2008

New Mexico
3.7%(p) in Mar 2008

New York
4.8%(p) in Mar 2008

North Carolina
5.2%(p) in Mar 2008

North Dakota
3.1%(p) in Mar 2008

Ohio
5.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Oklahoma
3.1%(p) in Mar 2008

Oregon
5.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Pennsylvania
4.9%(p) in Mar 2008

Puerto Rico
9.8%(p) in Mar 2008

Rhode Island
6.1%(p) in Mar 2008

South Carolina
5.7%(p) in Mar 2008

South Dakota
2.5%(p) in Mar 2008

Tennessee
5.6%(p) in Mar 2008

Texas
4.3%(p) in Mar 2008

Utah
3.3%(p) in Mar 2008

Vermont
4.6%(p) in Mar 2008

Virginia
3.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Washington
4.9%(p) in Mar 2008

West Virginia
4.7%(p) in Mar 2008

Wisconsin
4.8%(p) in Mar 2008

Wyoming
3.1%(p) in Mar 2008

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» Click on the icon for 10 years of historical data.

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Supplemental Tables

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