Economic Indicators State unemployment by race and ethnicity
In the third quarter of 2019, African American workers had the highest unemployment rate nationally, at 6.0%, followed by Hispanic workers (at 4.1%), white workers (at 3.1%), and Asian workers (at 2.6%).1 This report provides a state-by-state breakdown of unemployment rates by race and ethnicity and racial/ethnic unemployment rate gaps for the third quarter of 2019. While we did not publish a full report on unemployment rates for the second quarter of 2019, those numbers are available in an interactive map and tables included in the appendix to this report.
Key numbers • 2019 Q3
2019 Q3 • Updated November 2019
Latest data: Black, Hispanic, Asian, and white unemployment rates are at or below pre-recession levels in majority of states
Between the first and third quarters of 2019, employment prospects for black workers improved in the majority of states for which data are available. While the gap between the black and white unemployment rates narrowed in half of the states for which data are available, black unemployment remains high relative to that of other workers throughout the United States. Following are some key highlights of the report:
- The African American unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 20 states (these data are available for 21 states and the District of Columbia). However, in 12 states and in the District of Columbia, African American unemployment rates exceed white unemployment rates by a ratio of 2.0-to-1 or higher.
- The District of Columbia has a black–white unemployment rate ratio of 6.1-to-1, while Mississippi and Illinois have the highest ratios among states (3.5-to-1 and 3.0-to-1, respectively).
- The highest African American unemployment rate is in the District of Columbia (11.3%), followed by Illinois (9.6%), Mississippi (9.5%), Michigan (8.1%), and New York (7.3%). The highest Hispanic state unemployment rate is in Arizona (5.9%), followed by Louisiana (5.8%), New Mexico (5.8%), Oregon (5.0%), and North Carolina (5.0%). Meanwhile, the highest white state unemployment rate is 4.5%, in Washington and West Virginia.
- The Hispanic unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 14 states (of the 16 states for which these data are available). The Hispanic unemployment rate is lower than the white rate in one state (Nevada, 0.8-to-1).
- The largest gaps between Hispanic and white unemployment rates are in Louisiana (2.0-to-1) and in Texas and Virginia (1.8-to-1 each).
Background
In September 2019, the national unemployment rate was 3.5%, down from 3.8% at the end of the first quarter (March) of 2019.2 State unemployment rates in September ranged from a low of 2.2% in Vermont to 6.2% in Alaska.3 According to a previous EPI analysis of unemployment by state, from March 2019 to September 2019, 32 states and the District of Columbia saw their unemployment rates decline, 14 states saw unemployment rates rise, and four states saw no change.4
State unemployment rates, by race and ethnicity
EPI analyzes state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity, and racial/ethnic unemployment rate gaps, on a quarterly basis to generate a sample size large enough to create reliable estimates of unemployment rates by race and ethnicity at the state level. We report estimates only for states for which the sample size of these subgroups is large enough to create an accurate estimate. For this reason, the number of states included in our map and data tables varies based on the analysis performed (unemployment rate, change in unemployment rate since the fourth quarter of 2007, and ratio of African American or Hispanic unemployment rate to white unemployment rate).
Trends among white workers
In the third quarter of 2019, the white unemployment rate was lowest in South Dakota and the District of Columbia (both 1.9%) and highest in Washington and West Virginia (both 4.5%), as shown in the interactive map and underlying data table, which present state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity.
State unemployment rates, by race/ethnicity and overall, 2019Q3
| State | All | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3.2% | 2.4% | 5.5% | NA | NA |
| Alaska | 6.3% | 3.8% | NA | NA | NA |
| Arizona | 4.9% | 4.0% | NA | 5.9% | NA |
| Arkansas | 3.5% | 3.0% | 6.6% | NA | NA |
| California | 4.1% | 3.5% | 5.7% | 4.3% | 3.9% |
| Colorado | 2.8% | 2.5% | NA | 3.4% | NA |
| Connecticut | 3.6% | 3.2% | NA | 4.7% | NA |
| Delaware | 3.4% | 2.3% | 6.0% | NA | NA |
| Washington D.C. | 5.5% | 1.9% | 11.3% | NA | NA |
| Florida | 3.3% | 2.5% | 6.1% | 3.4% | 2.2% |
| Georgia | 3.6% | 2.5% | 6.1% | 3.2% | NA |
| Hawaii | 2.7% | 2.6% | NA | NA | 2.5% |
| Idaho | 2.9% | 2.7% | NA | 4.1% | NA |
| Illinois | 4.1% | 3.2% | 9.6% | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| Indiana | 3.3% | 3.0% | 4.6% | 4.1% | NA |
| Iowa | 2.5% | 2.2% | NA | NA | NA |
| Kansas | 3.3% | 2.9% | NA | 3.8% | NA |
| Kentucky | 4.3% | 4.1% | NA | NA | NA |
| Louisiana | 4.3% | 2.9% | 6.9% | 5.8% | NA |
| Maine | 3.0% | 2.8% | NA | NA | NA |
| Maryland | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.9% | NA | NA |
| Massachusetts | 2.9% | 2.8% | 3.7% | 4.2% | 1.2% |
| Michigan | 4.2% | 3.9% | 8.1% | NA | NA |
| Minnesota | 3.3% | 3.1% | NA | NA | NA |
| Mississippi | 5.2% | 2.7% | 9.5% | NA | NA |
| Missouri | 3.2% | 2.7% | NA | NA | NA |
| Montana | 3.4% | 3.1% | NA | NA | NA |
| Nebraska | 3.1% | 2.4% | NA | 4.0% | NA |
| Nevada | 4.1% | 4.0% | NA | 3.1% | 4.5% |
| New Hampshire | 2.5% | 2.4% | NA | NA | NA |
| New Jersey | 3.3% | 3.1% | 4.3% | 3.6% | 2.1% |
| New Mexico | 4.9% | 3.6% | NA | 5.8% | NA |
| New York | 4.0% | 3.5% | 7.3% | 4.6% | 1.4% |
| North Carolina | 4.2% | 3.5% | 5.9% | 5.0% | NA |
| North Dakota | 2.4% | 2.1% | NA | NA | NA |
| Ohio | 4.1% | 3.6% | 5.9% | NA | NA |
| Oklahoma | 3.2% | 2.7% | NA | 4.1% | NA |
| Oregon | 4.0% | 3.5% | NA | 5.0% | NA |
| Pennsylvania | 3.9% | 3.5% | 7.0% | 4.6% | NA |
| Rhode Island | 3.6% | 3.2% | NA | NA | NA |
| South Carolina | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.8% | NA | NA |
| South Dakota | 2.9% | 1.9% | NA | NA | NA |
| Tennessee | 3.4% | 3.0% | 5.6% | NA | NA |
| Texas | 3.4% | 2.3% | 5.6% | 4.1% | 1.2% |
| Utah | 2.8% | 2.8% | NA | 2.7% | NA |
| Vermont | 2.1% | 2.0% | NA | NA | NA |
| Virginia | 2.8% | 2.4% | 3.0% | 4.2% | 3.2% |
| Washington | 4.6% | 4.5% | NA | 4.3% | 2.1% |
| West Virginia | 4.7% | 4.5% | NA | NA | NA |
| Wisconsin | 3.1% | 2.6% | NA | NA | NA |
| Wyoming | 3.7% | 3.4% | NA | NA | NA |
Note: The map reports unemployment rates only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data
Table 1 displays changes in state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity from the fourth quarter of 2007—the last quarter before the Great Recession—to the third quarter of 2019. The white unemployment rate remained most elevated above its pre-recession level in Wyoming (0.8 percentage points higher) and in Arizona and Maryland, both at 0.7 percentage points higher than in the fourth quarter of 2007. The white unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 43 states. The largest declines in white unemployment since the end of 2007 have occurred in Michigan (down 2.3 percentage points), Vermont (down 2.2 percentage points), Rhode Island (down 2.2 percentage points), and Maine (down 2.0 percentage points). The white unemployment rate is above but within 0.5 percentage points of its pre-recession level in the District of Columbia, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Utah.
Change in state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity from 2007Q4 to 2019Q3 (percentage points)
| State | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | -0.9 | -2.7 | -1.8 | -0.9 |
| Alabama | -1.2 | -0.8 | NA | NA |
| Alaska | -0.8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Arizona | 0.7 | NA | 0.0 | NA |
| Arkansas | -1.6 | -2.3 | NA | NA |
| California | -1.2 | -4.4 | -2.8 | -0.9 |
| Colorado | -1.0 | NA | -1.8 | NA |
| Connecticut | -0.3 | NA | -3.5 | NA |
| Delaware | -0.6 | 1.1 | NA | NA |
| District of Columbia | 0.2 | 1.5 | NA | NA |
| Florida | -1.5 | -0.2 | -2.4 | NA |
| Georgia | -0.8 | -2.1 | -3.9 | NA |
| Hawaii | -1.4 | NA | NA | 0.0 |
| Idaho | -0.4 | NA | NA | NA |
| Illinois | -1.2 | -2.7 | -2.1 | -0.3 |
| Indiana | -1.3 | -6.9 | NA | NA |
| Iowa | -1.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kansas | -0.8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kentucky | -0.9 | NA | NA | NA |
| Louisiana | 0.5 | -1.8 | NA | NA |
| Maine | -2.0 | NA | NA | NA |
| Maryland | 0.7 | -1.8 | NA | NA |
| Massachusetts | -1.8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Michigan | -2.3 | -7.5 | NA | NA |
| Minnesota | -1.1 | NA | NA | NA |
| Mississippi | -0.9 | -0.9 | NA | NA |
| Missouri | -1.8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Montana | -0.6 | NA | NA | NA |
| Nebraska | -0.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| Nevada | -0.2 | NA | -3.4 | 1.5 |
| New Hampshire | -1.1 | NA | NA | NA |
| New Jersey | -0.8 | -4.1 | -1.6 | -0.2 |
| New Mexico | 0.4 | NA | 1.2 | NA |
| New York | -0.3 | -0.6 | -2.5 | -1.9 |
| North Carolina | -0.5 | -2.3 | -1.4 | NA |
| North Dakota | 0.1 | NA | NA | NA |
| Ohio | -0.9 | -7.7 | NA | NA |
| Oklahoma | -0.3 | NA | NA | NA |
| Oregon | -1.9 | NA | NA | NA |
| Pennsylvania | -0.7 | -0.1 | NA | NA |
| Rhode Island | -2.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| South Carolina | -0.6 | -7.3 | NA | NA |
| South Dakota | -0.1 | NA | NA | NA |
| Tennessee | -1.5 | -3.9 | NA | NA |
| Texas | -1.1 | -2.3 | -0.4 | -1.7 |
| Utah | 0.3 | NA | -1.2 | NA |
| Vermont | -2.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| Virginia | -0.7 | -2.3 | 0.5 | NA |
| Washington | -0.3 | NA | -1.5 | -1.7 |
| West Virginia | -0.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| Wisconsin | -1.7 | NA | NA | NA |
| Wyoming | 0.8 | NA | NA | NA |
Note: The table reports data only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data
Trends among African American workers
African American unemployment rate estimates are available for 22 states and the District of Columbia. Among states, the unemployment rate for African Americans was lowest in Virginia (3.0%) and Massachusetts (3.7%), and highest in Illinois (9.6%); in the District of Columbia, it was 11.3%. The District of Columbia also had the highest black unemployment rate during the previous 12 quarters.
In the third quarter of 2019, of the 22 states with African American unemployment rate estimates (excluding D.C.), all had black unemployment rates below 10%; in 12 of these states, the rate was at or below the third-quarter national average for African Americans (6.0%).
As shown in Table 2, which displays the black–white and Hispanic–white unemployment rate ratios in the third quarter of 2019, Maryland and South Carolina had the smallest black–white rate gaps of the 22 states and the District of Columbia. Black unemployment in Maryland and South Carolina was 1.1 times and 1.2 times the white unemployment rate in those states, respectively. Meanwhile, the largest gap was in the District of Columbia, where the black unemployment rate was 6.1 times the white rate. The next highest unemployment ratios were in Mississippi (3.5-to-1), Illinois (3.0-to-1), Delaware (2.6-to-1), and Georgia (2.5-to-1).
Black–white and Hispanic–white state unemployment rate ratios, 2019Q3
| State | Black–white ratio | Hispanic–white ratio |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 1.9 | 1.3 |
| Alabama | 2.3 | NA |
| Alaska | NA | NA |
| Arizona | NA | 1.5 |
| Arkansas | 2.2 | NA |
| California | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Colorado | NA | 1.4 |
| Connecticut | NA | 1.5 |
| Delaware | 2.6 | NA |
| District of Columbia | 6.1 | NA |
| Florida | 2.4 | 1.4 |
| Georgia | 2.5 | 1.3 |
| Hawaii | NA | NA |
| Idaho | NA | 1.5 |
| Illinois | 3.0 | 1.1 |
| Indiana | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| Iowa | NA | NA |
| Kansas | NA | 1.3 |
| Kentucky | NA | NA |
| Louisiana | 2.4 | 2.0 |
| Maine | NA | NA |
| Maryland | 1.1 | NA |
| Massachusetts | 1.3 | 1.5 |
| Michigan | 2.1 | NA |
| Minnesota | NA | NA |
| Mississippi | 3.5 | NA |
| Missouri | NA | NA |
| Montana | NA | NA |
| Nebraska | NA | 1.6 |
| Nevada | NA | 0.8 |
| New Hampshire | NA | NA |
| New Jersey | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| New Mexico | NA | 1.6 |
| New York | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| North Carolina | 1.7 | 1.4 |
| North Dakota | NA | NA |
| Ohio | 1.6 | NA |
| Oklahoma | NA | 1.5 |
| Oregon | NA | 1.4 |
| Pennsylvania | 2.0 | 1.3 |
| Rhode Island | NA | NA |
| South Carolina | 1.2 | NA |
| South Dakota | NA | NA |
| Tennessee | 1.9 | NA |
| Texas | 2.4 | 1.8 |
| Utah | NA | 1.0 |
| Vermont | NA | NA |
| Virginia | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| Washington | NA | 1.0 |
| West Virginia | NA | NA |
| Wisconsin | NA | NA |
| Wyoming | NA | NA |
Note: The table reports data only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data
The black unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2019 was at or below its pre-recession level in 20 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Since the end of 2007, the black unemployment rate has declined most in Ohio (down 7.7 percentage points), Michigan (down 7.5 percentage points), South Carolina (down 7.3 percentage points) and Indiana (down 6.9 percentage points)—states with some of the highest black unemployment rates in the nation prior to the Great Recession. (Data on the change in black unemployment over this period are available for 21 states and the District of Columbia.)
Trends among Hispanic workers
Hispanic unemployment rate estimates are available for 24 states and the District of Columbia, and data on the change in Hispanic unemployment rates since the fourth quarter of 2007 are available for 16 states. In the third quarter of 2019, among states, the Hispanic unemployment rate was highest in Arizona (5.9%), Louisiana (5.8%), New Mexico (5.8%), Oregon (5.0%), and North Carolina (5.0%). The rate was lowest in Utah (2.7%) and Nevada (3.1%).
The Hispanic unemployment rate is at or below its pre-recession level in 14 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The Hispanic unemployment rate was most elevated above its pre-recession level in New Mexico (1.2 percentage points); it declined most in Georgia (down 3.9 percentage points), Connecticut (down 3.5 percentage points) and Nevada (down 3.4 percentage points).
The Hispanic unemployment rate was lower than the white unemployment rate in Nevada, with a rate ratio of 0.8-to-1. The ratio of Hispanic unemployment to white unemployment was highest in Louisiana (2.0-to-1) and in Virginia and Texas (1.8-to-1 each).
Trends among Asian workers
Asian unemployment rate estimates are available for 11 states, and data on the change in Asian unemployment rates since the fourth quarter of 2007 are available for eight states. The Asian unemployment rate was lowest in Massachusetts (1.2%) and highest in Nevada (4.5%). The Asian unemployment rate was at or below its pre-recession level in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington. The Asian unemployment rate was above its pre-recession level in Nevada (1.5 percentage points higher).
Methodology
The unemployment rate estimates in this report are based on the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and the Current Population Survey (CPS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The overall state unemployment rate is taken directly from the LAUS. CPS six-month ratios are applied to LAUS data to calculate the rates by race and ethnicity. For each state subgroup, we calculate the unemployment rate using the past six months of CPS data. We then find the ratio of this subgroup rate to the state unemployment rate using the same period of CPS data. This gives us an estimate of how the subgroup compares with the state overall.
While this methodology allows us to calculate unemployment-rate estimates at the state level by race and ethnicity by quarter, it is less precise at the national level than simply using the CPS. Thus, the national-level estimates may differ from direct CPS estimates.
In many states, the sample sizes of particular subgroups are not large enough to create accurate estimates of their unemployment rates. We report data only for groups that had, on average, a sample size of at least 700 in the labor force for each six-month period.
Appendix
State unemployment rates, by race/ethnicity and overall, 2019Q2
| State | All | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3.7% | 2.7% | 6.6% | NA | NA |
| Alaska | 6.4% | 4.3% | NA | NA | NA |
| Arizona | 4.9% | 4.2% | NA | 6.1% | NA |
| Arkansas | 3.6% | 3.3% | 5.9% | NA | NA |
| California | 4.2% | 3.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% | 3.1% |
| Colorado | 3.2% | 2.1% | NA | 5.5% | NA |
| Connecticut | 3.8% | 2.3% | NA | NA | NA |
| Delaware | 3.2% | 2.4% | 6.3% | NA | NA |
| Washington D.C. | 5.6% | 1.8% | 12.0% | NA | NA |
| Florida | 3.4% | 3.0% | 5.7% | 3.4% | NA |
| Georgia | 3.8% | 2.5% | 7.0% | 2.3% | NA |
| Hawaii | 2.8% | 3.4% | NA | NA | 2.0% |
| Idaho | 2.8% | 2.8% | NA | 2.7% | NA |
| Illinois | 4.4% | 3.4% | 11.0% | 3.2% | NA |
| Indiana | 3.6% | 2.8% | NA | NA | NA |
| Iowa | 2.4% | 1.9% | NA | NA | NA |
| Kansas | 3.5% | 3.2% | NA | NA | NA |
| Kentucky | 4.0% | 3.7% | NA | NA | NA |
| Louisiana | 4.4% | 2.4% | 8.7% | NA | NA |
| Maine | 3.3% | 3.0% | NA | NA | NA |
| Maryland | 3.8% | 2.9% | 6.3% | NA | NA |
| Massachusetts | 3.0% | 2.8% | NA | 3.7% | NA |
| Michigan | 4.2% | 3.6% | 8.0% | NA | NA |
| Minnesota | 3.3% | 2.7% | NA | NA | NA |
| Mississippi | 5.0% | 2.8% | 8.7% | NA | NA |
| Missouri | 3.3% | 2.5% | NA | NA | NA |
| Montana | 3.6% | 3.3% | NA | NA | NA |
| Nebraska | 3.0% | 2.3% | NA | NA | NA |
| Nevada | 4.0% | 3.8% | NA | 4.2% | NA |
| New Hampshire | 2.4% | 2.2% | NA | NA | NA |
| New Jersey | 3.7% | 3.4% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 3.8% |
| New Mexico | 5.0% | 4.3% | NA | 4.8% | NA |
| New York | 4.0% | 3.2% | 7.4% | 5.0% | 2.2% |
| North Carolina | 4.1% | 3.3% | 5.8% | 5.3% | NA |
| North Dakota | 2.3% | 1.9% | NA | NA | NA |
| Ohio | 4.1% | 3.6% | 7.7% | NA | NA |
| Oklahoma | 3.2% | 2.3% | NA | NA | NA |
| Oregon | 4.2% | 3.5% | NA | NA | NA |
| Pennsylvania | 3.8% | 3.0% | 8.8% | NA | NA |
| Rhode Island | 3.6% | 2.8% | NA | NA | NA |
| South Carolina | 3.5% | 2.4% | 5.7% | NA | NA |
| South Dakota | 2.9% | 1.9% | NA | NA | NA |
| Tennessee | 3.3% | 2.6% | 6.1% | NA | NA |
| Texas | 3.5% | 2.9% | 5.1% | 3.7% | 2.7% |
| Utah | 2.9% | 2.8% | NA | 2.8% | NA |
| Vermont | 2.1% | 2.1% | NA | NA | NA |
| Virginia | 2.9% | 2.3% | 5.2% | NA | NA |
| Washington | 4.6% | 4.0% | NA | 7.8% | 4.3% |
| West Virginia | 4.8% | 4.5% | NA | NA | NA |
| Wisconsin | 2.8% | 2.6% | NA | NA | NA |
| Wyoming | 3.5% | 3.3% | NA | NA | NA |
Note: The map reports unemployment rates only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data
Change in state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity from 2007Q4 to 2019Q2 (percentage points)
| White | Black | Hispanic | Asian | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | -1.1 | -2.2 | -1.5 | -0.8 |
| Alabama | -0.9 | 0.4 | NA | NA |
| Alaska | -0.3 | NA | NA | NA |
| Arizona | 0.8 | NA | 0.2 | NA |
| Arkansas | -1.4 | -3.0 | NA | NA |
| California | -1.5 | -4.1 | -1.7 | -1.7 |
| Colorado | -1.4 | NA | 0.2 | NA |
| Connecticut | -1.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| Delaware | -0.5 | 1.4 | NA | NA |
| District of Columbia | 0.1 | 2.1 | NA | NA |
| Florida | -1.0 | -0.7 | -2.4 | NA |
| Georgia | -0.8 | -1.2 | -4.8 | NA |
| Hawaii | -0.6 | NA | NA | -0.5 |
| Idaho | -0.3 | NA | NA | NA |
| Illinois | -1.0 | -1.3 | -2.5 | NA |
| Indiana | -1.5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Iowa | -1.4 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kansas | -0.5 | NA | NA | NA |
| Kentucky | -1.3 | NA | NA | NA |
| Louisiana | 0.0 | 0.1 | NA | NA |
| Maine | -1.8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Maryland | 0.1 | 0.7 | NA | NA |
| Massachusetts | -1.8 | NA | NA | NA |
| Michigan | -2.6 | -7.6 | NA | NA |
| Minnesota | -1.4 | NA | NA | NA |
| Mississippi | -0.9 | -1.6 | NA | NA |
| Missouri | -2.0 | NA | NA | NA |
| Montana | -0.4 | NA | NA | NA |
| Nebraska | -0.3 | NA | NA | NA |
| Nevada | -0.5 | NA | -2.3 | NA |
| New Hampshire | -1.3 | NA | NA | NA |
| New Jersey | -0.6 | -4.1 | -1.0 | 1.5 |
| New Mexico | 1.1 | NA | 0.2 | NA |
| New York | -0.5 | -0.5 | -2.1 | -1.1 |
| North Carolina | -0.8 | -2.4 | -1.1 | NA |
| North Dakota | -0.1 | NA | NA | NA |
| Ohio | -1.0 | -5.9 | NA | NA |
| Oklahoma | -0.7 | NA | NA | NA |
| Oregon | -1.9 | NA | NA | NA |
| Pennsylvania | -1.2 | 1.6 | NA | NA |
| Rhode Island | -2.5 | NA | NA | NA |
| South Carolina | -1.3 | -5.4 | NA | NA |
| South Dakota | -0.1 | NA | NA | NA |
| Tennessee | -1.9 | -3.4 | NA | NA |
| Texas | -0.5 | -2.8 | -0.8 | -0.2 |
| Utah | 0.2 | NA | -1.1 | NA |
| Vermont | -2.1 | NA | NA | NA |
| Virginia | -0.7 | -0.2 | NA | NA |
| Washington | -0.9 | NA | 2.0 | 0.4 |
| West Virginia | -0.2 | NA | NA | NA |
| Wisconsin | -1.7 | NA | NA | NA |
| Wyoming | 0.7 | NA | NA | NA |
Note: The table reports data only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data
Black–white and Hispanic–white state unemployment rate ratios, 2019Q2
| State | Black–white ratio | Hispanic–white ratio |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Alabama | 2.4 | NA |
| Alaska | NA | NA |
| Arizona | NA | 1.5 |
| Arkansas | 1.8 | NA |
| California | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| Colorado | NA | 2.6 |
| Connecticut | NA | NA |
| Delaware | 2.6 | NA |
| District of Columbia | 6.5 | NA |
| Florida | 1.9 | 1.1 |
| Georgia | 2.8 | 0.9 |
| Hawaii | NA | NA |
| Idaho | NA | 1.0 |
| Illinois | 3.2 | 0.9 |
| Indiana | NA | NA |
| Iowa | NA | NA |
| Kansas | NA | NA |
| Kentucky | NA | NA |
| Louisiana | 3.7 | NA |
| Maine | NA | NA |
| Maryland | 2.2 | NA |
| Massachusetts | NA | 1.3 |
| Michigan | 2.2 | NA |
| Minnesota | NA | NA |
| Mississippi | 3.1 | NA |
| Missouri | NA | NA |
| Montana | NA | NA |
| Nebraska | NA | NA |
| Nevada | NA | 1.1 |
| New Hampshire | NA | NA |
| New Jersey | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| New Mexico | NA | 1.1 |
| New York | 2.3 | 1.6 |
| North Carolina | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| North Dakota | NA | NA |
| Ohio | 2.2 | NA |
| Oklahoma | NA | NA |
| Oregon | NA | NA |
| Pennsylvania | 2.9 | NA |
| Rhode Island | NA | NA |
| South Carolina | 2.4 | NA |
| South Dakota | NA | NA |
| Tennessee | 2.4 | NA |
| Texas | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| Utah | NA | 1.0 |
| Vermont | NA | NA |
| Virginia | 2.2 | NA |
| Washington | NA | 2.0 |
| West Virginia | NA | NA |
| Wisconsin | NA | NA |
| Wyoming | NA | NA |
Note: The table reports data only for state subgroups with sample sizes large enough to create accurate estimates.
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data
Endnotes
1. EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data.
2. “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey: Unemployment Rate,” Series Id. LNS14000000 [online data table], U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed November 6, 2019.
3. “State Employment and Unemployment—September 2019,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed November 6, 2019.
4. “State Jobs and Unemployment” (economic indicators), Economic Policy Institute, accessed November 6, 2019.