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Seven states at historically low unemployment rates in May 2017

June 22, 2017

In May 2017, unemployment rates in seven states were at their lowest levels since the state unemployment data series began in January 1976. Colorado had the lowest unemployment rate in May, 2.3 percent, followed by North Dakota, 2.5 percent, both of which were the lowest rates ever recorded in those states. The rates in Arkansas (3.4 percent), California (4.7 percent), Mississippi (4.9 percent), Oregon (3.6 percent), and Washington (4.5 percent) were also at series lows. Alaska and New Mexico had the highest jobless rates among the states, 6.7 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.
Current unemployment rates for states, May 2017, and historical highs and lows, seasonally adjusted
State May 2017 rate Historical High Historical Low
Date Rate Date Rate

Alabama

 4.9% Dec 1982 15.5% Apr 2007 3.8%

Alaska

 6.7 Aug 1986 11.2 Jun 2007 6.3

Arizona

 5.1 Dec 1982 11.5 Jul 2007 3.7

Arkansas

 3.4 Feb 1983 10.3 May 2017 3.4

California

 4.7 Oct 2010 12.2 May 2017 4.7

Colorado

 2.3 Oct 2010 8.9 May 2017 2.3

Connecticut

 4.9 Jan 1976 10.0 Oct 2000 2.2

Delaware

 4.7 Dec 1976 9.8 Jun 1988 3.0

District of Columbia

 6.0 Sep 1983 11.3 Sep 1989 4.8

Florida

 4.3 Jan 2010 11.2 Apr 2006 3.1

Georgia

 4.9 Dec 2010 10.5 Nov 2000 3.4

Hawaii

 2.7 Jan 1976 10.4 Dec 2006 2.4

Idaho

 3.2 Dec 1982 10.2 Jun 2007 2.9

Illinois

 4.6 Feb 1983 13.1 Feb 1999 4.1

Indiana

 3.2 Dec 1982 12.6 Oct 2000 2.9

Iowa

 3.1 Jan 1983 9.1 Mar 2000 2.4

Kansas

 3.7 Sep 2009 7.3 Aug 1978 2.9

Kentucky

 5.0 Feb 1983 12.1 May 2000 4.0

Louisiana

 5.7 Nov 1986 13.1 Oct 2007 3.9

Maine

 3.2 Jan 1977 9.0 Apr 2017 3.0

Maryland

 4.2 Mar 1982 8.5 Dec 1999 3.3

Massachusetts

 4.2 Jan 1976 10.7 Oct 2000 2.6

Michigan

 4.2 Dec 1982 16.5 Mar 2000 3.2

Minnesota

 3.7 Jan 1983 8.9 Mar 1999 2.5

Mississippi

 4.9 Apr 1983 12.8 May 2017 4.9

Missouri

 3.9 Apr 1983 10.6 Jan 2000 3.1

Montana

 3.9 May 1983 8.8 Feb 2007 2.9

Nebraska

 2.9 Feb 1983 6.3 Oct 1990 2.3

Nevada

 4.7 Nov 2010 13.7 Jan 1999 3.7

New Hampshire

 2.9 Jul 1992 7.4 Mar 1988 2.2

New Jersey

 4.1 Jan 1977 10.7 May 2000 3.5

New Mexico

 6.6 Mar 1983 10.5 Aug 2007 3.7

New York

 4.4 Jan 1976 10.4 May 1988 4.0

North Carolina

 4.5 Mar 2010 11.3 Apr 1999 3.0

North Dakota

 2.5 Mar 1983 6.2 May 2017 2.5

Ohio

 4.9 Jan 1983 14.0 Apr 2001 3.8

Oklahoma

 4.3 Apr 1983 8.9 Dec 2000 2.9

Oregon

 3.6 May 2009 11.9 May 2017 3.6

Pennsylvania

 5.0 Feb 1983 12.7 May 2000 4.0

Rhode Island

 4.1 Aug 2009 11.3 May 1988 2.9

South Carolina

 4.1 Jan 1983 11.8 Apr 1998 3.5

South Dakota

 2.9 Jan 1983 5.9 Jul 2000 2.4

Tennessee

 4.0 Jan 1983 12.9 Mar 2000 3.7

Texas

 4.8 Nov 1986 9.2 Dec 2000 4.0

Utah

 3.2 Mar 1983 9.6 Mar 2007 2.3

Vermont

 3.1 Feb 1976 8.8 Mar 2000 2.6

Virginia

 3.8 Dec 1982 7.9 Nov 2000 2.1

Washington

 4.5 Nov 1982 12.2 May 2017 4.5

West Virginia

 4.5 Feb 1983 18.8 Aug 2008 4.1

Wisconsin

 3.1 Jan 1983 11.9 Jul 1999 3.0

Wyoming

 4.1 Dec 1986 9.4 May 1979 2.5

Note: Rates shown are a percentage of the labor force. Data refer to place of residence. Series begin in January 1976. Historical highs and lows show the most recent month that a rate was recorded in the event of multiple occurrences. Estimates for at least the latest five years are subject to revision early in the following calendar year. Estimates for the current month are subject to revision the following month. 

Twenty-two states had significant unemployment rate changes from May 2016, all of which were decreases. The largest of these declines occurred in West Virginia and Wyoming (−1.5 percentage points each), closely followed by Indiana and Oregon (−1.4 points each).

The state unemployment data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "State Employment and Unemployment — May 2017" (HTML) (PDF). For more charts and tables related to state employment and unemployment, see the State unemployment chart package.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Seven states at historically low unemployment rates in May 2017 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2017/seven-states-at-historically-low-unemployment-rates-in-may-2017.htm (visited March 12, 2026).