Unemployment rate lowest in Vermont, highest in Alaska, July 2019

In July 2019, unemployment rates in 14 states were significantly lower than the 3.7-percent rate for the United States as a whole, significantly higher in 8 states and the District of Columbia, and were not appreciably different from the national rate in 28 states.

Vermont had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.1 percent. North Dakota, Iowa, and New Hampshire also had unemployment rates of 2.5 percent or lower in July 2019.

The July 2019 rates in Alabama (3.3 percent), Arkansas (3.4 percent), Maine (3.0 percent), and New Jersey (3.3 percent) were all record lows. (All state unemployment data begin in 1976.)

Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.3 percent. Mississippi and the District of Columbia also had unemployment rates above 5.0 percent in July 2019.

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 — July 2019." Also see more charts and maps on state employment and unemployment.