21 states set historic lows in unemployment rates since 2010

Since 2010, a total of 21 states set historic lows in their unemployment rates. In April 2019, Pennsylvania (3.8 percent), Vermont (2.2 percent), and Wisconsin (2.8 percent) set new series lows. Vermont (2.2 percent) had the lowest unemployment rate in April 2019, while Alaska (6.5 percent) had the highest rate.

Kansas and Nebraska are the only states that have maintained historic lows set during the period from 1976 to 1979. Kansas set a low of 2.9 percent in 1978, while Wyoming set its low of 2.5 percent in 1979. All state series begin in 1976.

The states that recorded their most recent unemployment rate lows from 1980 to 1989 all did so in 1988: Delaware at 3.0 percent, New Hampshire at 2.2 percent, and Rhode Island at 3.0 percent. The District of Columbia set its most recent historic unemployment rate low of 4.8 percent in 1989, after setting that same low in 1988.

These 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 — April 2019." We also have more charts and maps on state employment and unemployment.