The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
In 2014, annual average employment–population ratios increased in 35 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 12 states, and did not change in 3 states. Hawaii and Indiana had the largest over-the-year increases in their employment–population ratios (+1.4 percentage points each), followed by Louisiana (+1.2 points) and Connecticut (+1.1 points). Sixteen other states had increases of at least 0.5 percentage point. Mississippi and Tennessee had the largest decreases in their employment–population ratios (-1.2 percentage points each). Four other states had declines of at least 0.5 percentage point.
Employment–population ratio, by state, 2014 annual averages
64.6% and higher
60.8% to 64.5%
58.9% to 60.7%
56.5% to 58.8%
56.4% and lower
Alaska
63.3% Over-the-year change: 1.0
Hover over a state to see data.
Hover over legend items to see states in a category.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employment–population ratio, by state, 2014 annual averages
State
Ratio
Over-the-year change
North Dakota
70.8
0.2
Nebraska
68.9
-0.2
Iowa
67.3
1.0
Minnesota
67.0
0.3
South Dakota
66.9
0.1
New Hampshire
65.7
0.0
Utah
65.4
0.4
Kansas
65.2
0.8
Wyoming
65.1
0.1
Vermont
65.0
-0.4
Colorado
64.6
0.9
Wisconsin
64.5
0.7
District of Columbia
64.0
0.3
Alaska
63.3
0.2
Maryland
62.6
-0.1
Virginia
62.6
0.0
Texas
61.9
0.5
Massachusetts
61.6
1.0
Connecticut
61.4
1.1
Montana
60.9
0.2
Missouri
60.8
0.8
Maine
60.5
-0.3
Illinois
60.3
0.8
Idaho
60.2
0.3
Rhode Island
59.9
0.4
New Jersey
59.8
0.5
Indiana
59.6
1.4
Ohio
59.3
0.8
Washington
59.2
0.1
Hawaii
59.0
1.4
Pennsylvania
58.9
0.3
Nevada
58.2
0.4
Oklahoma
57.8
-0.6
Delaware
57.7
1.0
California
57.7
0.6
Georgia
57.6
-0.1
Oregon
57.0
0.8
New York
56.9
0.2
Louisiana
56.9
1.2
North Carolina
56.8
0.0
Florida
56.5
0.6
Michigan
56.1
1.0
Arizona
55.6
0.5
Tennessee
54.9
-1.2
Kentucky
54.8
-0.7
South Carolina
54.7
0.4
New Mexico
53.6
-0.2
Arkansas
53.4
0.2
Alabama
52.9
-0.5
Mississippi
50.1
-1.2
West Virginia
49.7
-0.5
North Dakota had the highest proportion of people employed, 70.8 percent in 2014. Other states with high ratios were Nebraska, 68.9 percent; Iowa, 67.3 percent; Minnesota, 67.0 percent; and South Dakota, 66.9 percent.
West Virginia had the lowest employment–population ratio among the states, 49.7 percent. West Virginia has had the lowest employment–population ratio each year since the series began in 1976. Three states had the lowest employment–population ratios in their history in 2014: Kentucky, 54.8 percent; Mississippi, 50.1 percent; and New Mexico, 53.6 percent.