After crashing from a five-decade best national jobless rate of 3.5% in February to a multidecade high of 14.7% in April, the figure settled at 6.7% in December. Based on the country’s rate over the last five years, that is still high. The total number of people unemployed in December was 10.73 million compared to 5.84 million in December 2019.
Unemployment rates varied significantly by state according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics State Employment and Unemployment Summary December 2020. For the month, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 15 states, while that dropped in 11, and were the same in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Nonfarm payrolls exclude military, government jobs, and non-profits.
Hawaii and Nevada were the two states with the highest levels in December. Hawaii’s was 9.3% and Nevada’s was 9.2%. Each was attributed to large drop-offs in their essential tourism business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nebraska and South Dakota had the lowest rate at 3%.
24/7 Wall St. concentrated on three figures to examine the jobless rate by state. The first is the civilian labor force. We looked at that number for 2020 and 2019 and the percent change. The state with the largest civilian labor force in December 2020 was California at 18,960,473. The smallest is Wyoming at 294,000. We also looked at the number of people unemployed by state and the change between the two periods. Finally, we looked at the jobless rates in December 2020 and December 2019 and compared them.
Click here to see how many people don’t have jobs in every state.
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
50. Nebraska
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 31,032
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.0% (15th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 31,152
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49. South Dakota
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 13,997
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 15,772
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
48. Iowa
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 50,793
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.8% (11th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 49,338
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
47. Vermont
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 10,054
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 8,258
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46. Utah
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 60,069
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 39,623
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
45. Kansas
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 57,688
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.1% (17th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 46,922
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44. Alabama
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 3.9%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 87,534
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.7% (9th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 61,530
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43. New Hampshire
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 29,922
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.6% (6th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 19,902
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
42. North Dakota
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 16,663
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 9,629
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41. Arkansas
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 57,224
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 48,186
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
40. Indiana
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 144,356
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.2% (18th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 107,650
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39. Idaho
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 40,129
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.9% (13th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 25,389
Source: RudyBalasko / Getty Images
38. Minnesota
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 131,378
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.3% (20th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 101,893
Source: peeterv / Getty Images
37. Montana
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 23,714
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 18,716
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
36. South Carolina
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 107,253
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.4% (4th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 57,279
Source: Dean_Fikar / Getty Images
35. Wyoming
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 14,104
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 10,805
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34. Maine
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.9%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 33,223
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.0% (15th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 20,638
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
33. Virginia
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 4.9%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 209,408
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.7% (9th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 118,618
Source: mdgmorris / Getty Images
32. Delaware
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 25,191
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.0% (10th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 19,400
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31. Oklahoma
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 97,352
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 61,982
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
30. Ohio
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 314,989
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.1% (9th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 236,888
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29. Wisconsin
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 171,694
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 107,553
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
28. Georgia
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 286,281
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.1% (17th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 161,706
Source: volvob12b / Flickr
27. Alaska
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 20,229
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 6.1% (the highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 21,234
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Source: f11photo / Getty Images
26. Missouri
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 5.8%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 180,137
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 106,372
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
25. Kentucky
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 120,392
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.3% (8th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 90,284
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24. Florida
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 614,327
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.9% (13th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 297,440
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
23. Mississippi
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 78,408
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 5.6% (2nd highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 71,184
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
22. North Carolina
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 310,675
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.6% (20th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 186,123
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
21. Maryland
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 198,384
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 112,013
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
20. West Virginia
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 48,605
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 5.1% (4th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 40,725
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19. Oregon
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 136,560
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.4% (25th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 71,362
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Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
18. Tennessee
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 220,052
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.3% (20th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 111,811
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
17. Pennsylvania
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 6.7%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 419,700
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.6% (6th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 303,389
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16. Washington
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 272,530
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.0% (10th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 158,813
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
15. Louisiana
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 151,160
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 5.2% (3rd highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 108,997
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14. Texas
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 1,025,378
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 495,792
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
13. Massachusetts
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 271,787
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.8% (11th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 106,629
Source: Dreamframer / Getty Images
12. Arizona
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 268,293
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.5% (7th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 163,303
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11. Michigan
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.5%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 358,564
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.9% (12th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 190,994
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
10. Illinois
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 466,205
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 236,218
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9. New Jersey
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 7.6%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 339,665
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 167,704
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
8. Connecticut
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 150,370
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.8% (15th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 72,279
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
7. Rhode Island
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.1%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 44,002
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.5% (21st highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 19,330
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6. New Mexico
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 76,451
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 4.8% (5th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 45,728
Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images
5. New York
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 744,274
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.9% (12th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 371,454
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4. Colorado
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 8.4%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 269,179
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.5% (5th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 80,339
Source: choness / Getty Images
3. California
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 9.0%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 1,700,383
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.9% (12th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 754,716
Source: 4kodiak / Getty Images
2. Nevada
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 9.2%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 136,177
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 3.7% (16th highest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 57,125
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1. Hawaii
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2020: 9.3%
> Unemployed population, Dec 2020: 60,676
> Unemployment rate, Dec 2019: 2.7% (9th lowest)
> Unemployed population, Dec 2019: 17,666
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