Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York had highest unemployment rates in June 2020

Massachusetts had the highest unemployment rate in June, 17.4 percent, followed by New Jersey, 16.6 percent, and New York, 15.7 percent. The rates in these three states set new highs. (All state data begin in 1976.) Kentucky had the lowest unemployment rate in June, 4.3 percent.

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates in June 2020 that were higher than a year earlier, while Kentucky had no change.

The largest unemployment rate increases from June 2019 occurred in Massachusetts (+14.5 percentage points) and New Jersey (+13.3 points), with another six states experiencing increases of 10.0 points or more. The smallest over-the-year rate increases occurred in Utah (+2.5 percentage points) and Idaho (+2.7 points). Kentucky was the only state that did not have an increase in its unemployment rate compared with June 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 — June 2020." Also see more charts and maps on state employment and unemployment.