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Unemployment rate down 7.7 percentage points in Hawaii from October 2020 to October 2021
December 02, 2021
Among U.S. states, Hawaii had the largest unemployment rate decrease from October 2020 to October 2021. Hawaii’s unemployment rate decreased 7.7 percentage points over the year, from 14.0 percent to 6.3 percent. The next largest over-the-year jobless rate decrease over the year ended in October 2021 was in Nevada (−4.7 percentage points). Three other states—Tennessee, Massachusetts and West Virginia—experienced jobless rate declines of at least 3.0 percentage points.
States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes from October 2020 to October 2021, seasonally adjusted
State
Over-the-year change in unemployment rate
Unemployment rate, October 2020
Unemployment rate, October 2021
United States
-2.3 percentage point(s)
6.9%
4.6%
Hawaii
-7.7
14.0
6.3
Nevada
-4.7
12.0
7.3
Tennessee
-3.6
7.8
4.2
Massachusetts
-3.2
8.5
5.3
West Virginia
-3.1
7.4
4.3
Georgia
-2.8
5.9
3.1
North Carolina
-2.7
6.8
4.1
Oregon
-2.6
7.0
4.4
California
-2.5
9.8
7.3
District of Columbia
-2.5
8.8
6.3
Louisiana
-2.5
7.9
5.4
Oklahoma
-2.5
5.2
2.7
Virginia
-2.5
6.1
3.6
Indiana
-2.3
5.6
3.3
Illinois
-2.1
8.1
6.0
Idaho
-2.0
4.8
2.8
Michigan
-2.0
8.1
6.1
New Mexico
-2.0
8.5
6.5
Washington
-2.0
7.0
5.0
Arkansas
-1.9
5.6
3.7
Rhode Island
-1.9
7.3
5.4
Texas
-1.9
7.3
5.4
Connecticut
-1.8
8.2
6.4
Minnesota
-1.8
5.3
3.5
New Hampshire
-1.8
4.7
2.9
New York
-1.8
8.7
6.9
Nebraska
-1.7
3.6
1.9
Alabama
-1.6
4.7
3.1
Arizona
-1.6
6.8
5.2
Montana
-1.6
4.7
3.1
Utah
-1.6
3.8
2.2
Wisconsin
-1.6
4.8
3.2
Colorado
-1.5
6.9
5.4
South Carolina
-1.5
5.4
3.9
Mississippi
-1.4
6.9
5.5
North Dakota
-1.4
4.7
3.3
Kentucky
-1.3
5.5
4.2
Missouri
-1.3
5.0
3.7
Wyoming
-1.3
5.4
4.1
Florida
-1.2
5.8
4.6
Vermont
-1.2
4.0
2.8
Maryland
-1.1
6.8
5.7
Pennsylvania
-1.0
7.0
6.0
South Dakota
-0.9
3.7
2.8
Kansas
-0.8
4.7
3.9
Iowa
-0.3
4.2
3.9
Note: Data for the most recent month are preliminary.
From October 2020 to October 2021, 45 states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically significant decreases in their unemployment rates. Rates were essentially unchanged over the year in the remaining 5 states (Alaska, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, and Ohio). The national unemployment rate, 4.6 percent in October 2021, was 2.3 points lower than in October 2020.
California and Nevada had the highest unemployment rates in October 2021, each 7.3 percent. The rate in California was 2.5 percentage points lower than a year earlier; Nevada's rate was 4.7 percentage points lower.
Nebraska and Utah had the lowest jobless rates in October 2021: 1.9 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. Nebraska's rate was 1.7 points, and Utah's 1.6 points, lower than in October 2020.
The October 2021 unemployment rates in Georgia (3.1 percent), Nebraska (1.9 percent), Oklahoma (2.7 percent), Utah (2.2 percent), and West Virginia (4.3 percent) were the lowest that have ever been recorded in those states. (BLS state unemployment data begin in 1976.)
United States Department of Labor
