12 states set all-time low unemployment rates in December 2021

In December 2021, Nebraska (1.7 percent) and Utah (1.9 percent) had the lowest jobless rates. In addition to those states, the following states set all-time low unemployment rates: Arkansas (3.1 percent), Georgia (2.6 percent), Idaho (2.4 percent), Indiana (2.7 percent), Kentucky (3.9 percent), Mississippi (4.5 percent), Montana (2.5 percent), Oklahoma (2.3 percent), West Virginia (3.7 percent), and Wisconsin (2.8 percent). (All state data begin in January 1976.) California (6.5 percent) and Nevada (6.4 percent) had the highest unemployment rates.

Unemployment rates were lower in December 2021 in 42 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 8 states. In total, 17 states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rates higher than the U.S. figure of 3.9 percent, 16 states had lower rates, and 17 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.

In December 2021, 48 states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 2 states were little changed. The largest unemployment rate decrease from December 2020 occurred in Hawaii (−4.6 percentage points), closely followed by Massachusetts (−4.5 points). Another 3 states and the District of Columbia experienced declines of 3.0 percentage points or more.

These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "State Employment and Unemployment — December 2021." Also see more charts and maps on state employment and unemployment. Estimates for the most recent month are preliminary.