Alaska and Pennsylvania set record unemployment rate lows in December 2022

In December 2022, the unemployment rates in Alaska (4.3 percent) and Pennsylvania (3.9 percent) set all-time lows (all state unemployment data began in 1976). Utah had the lowest jobless rate in December 2022 (2.2 percent), followed by North Dakota and South Dakota (2.3 percent each).

In total, 14 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.5 percent, 11 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 25 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.

These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "State Employment and Unemployment — December 2022." We also have more charts and maps on state employment and unemployment. Estimates for the most recent month are preliminary.