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
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
Unemployment rates for large metropolitan areas:
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for metropolitan areas:
Over-the-year change in unemployment rates for large metropolitan areas:
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)
Labor force data by county, 2006 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 2005 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 2004 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
Labor force data by county, 2003 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 164KB)
Labor force data by county, 2002 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 168KB)
Labor force data by county, 2001 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 168KB)
Labor force data by county, 2000 annual averages (TXT, ZIP 167KB)
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
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2001
- 2000
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
4.7%(p) in May 2008

Alaska
7.0%(p) in May 2008

Arizona
4.4%(p) in May 2008

Arkansas
5.1%(p) in May 2008

California
6.8%(p) in May 2008

Colorado
4.9%(p) in May 2008

Connecticut
5.4%(p) in May 2008

Delaware
4.2%(p) in May 2008

D.C.
6.6%(p) in May 2008

Florida
5.5%(p) in May 2008

Georgia
5.8%(p) in May 2008

Hawaii
3.5%(p) in May 2008

Idaho
3.6%(p) in May 2008

Illinois
6.4%(p) in May 2008

Indiana
5.3%(p) in May 2008

Iowa
3.9%(p) in May 2008

Kansas
4.6%(p) in May 2008

Kentucky
6.2%(p) in May 2008

Louisiana
4.0%(p) in May 2008

Maine
5.4%(p) in May 2008

Maryland
4.0%(p) in May 2008

Massachusetts
4.9%(p) in May 2008

Michigan
8.5%(p) in May 2008

Minnesota
5.4%(p) in May 2008

Mississippi
6.9%(p) in May 2008

Missouri
6.0%(p) in May 2008

Montana
4.2%(p) in May 2008

Nebraska
3.2%(p) in May 2008

Nevada
6.2%(p) in May 2008

New Hampshire
4.0%(p) in May 2008

New Jersey
5.4%(p) in May 2008

New Mexico
3.8%(p) in May 2008

New York
5.2%(p) in May 2008

North Carolina
5.8%(p) in May 2008

North Dakota
3.3%(p) in May 2008

Ohio
6.3%(p) in May 2008

Oklahoma
3.5%(p) in May 2008

Oregon
5.6%(p) in May 2008

Pennsylvania
5.2%(p) in May 2008

Puerto Rico
11.2%(p) in May 2008

Rhode Island
7.2%(p) in May 2008

South Carolina
6.5%(p) in May 2008

South Dakota
2.9%(p) in May 2008

Tennessee
6.4%(p) in May 2008

Texas
4.5%(p) in May 2008

Utah
3.2%(p) in May 2008

Vermont
4.9%(p) in May 2008

Virginia
3.9%(p) in May 2008

Washington
5.3%(p) in May 2008

West Virginia
5.3%(p) in May 2008

Wisconsin
4.4%(p) in May 2008

Wyoming
2.9%(p) in May 2008

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

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