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RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Highest labor force participation, US states

US states ranked by the share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2024 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 71.6%. 51 states qualify in total. The median across all 51 is 63.8%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: New Jersey, NJ, up 7 places to #11.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2020
USUnited States334,922,49963.5%–
01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29471.6%+0.9 pts
02▲3Utah, UTUT3,392,33169.6%+0.8 pts
03▲3Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.6%+0.4 pts
04▼2North Dakota, NDND784,84168.6%−1.7 pts
05▼2Nebraska, NENE1,978,70768.6%−0.8 pts
06▼2Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44568.1%−1.1 pts
07South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.2%−0.7 pts
08Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.1%−0.5 pts
09▲2Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.0%−0.2 pts
10▲2Iowa, IAIA3,210,50766.4%−0.6 pts
11▲7New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80966.4%+0.6 pts
12▼3Alaska, AKAK735,70666.3%−1.2 pts
13▼3New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86866.3%−1.1 pts
14▼1Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.1%−0.5 pts
15Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50865.9%−0.1 pts
16▲1Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.4%−0.5 pts
17▼3Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87265.3%−0.9 pts
18▲5Texas, TXTX30,188,42465.3%+0.4 pts
19▼3Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.1%−0.7 pts
20▲2Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%+0.1 pts
21Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.0%−0.2 pts
22▼3Vermont, VTVT647,10664.6%−0.8 pts
23▲1Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.5%−0.1 pts
24▲1Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%+0.1 pts
25▲1California, CACA39,287,37763.8%+0.1 pts
26▲3Georgia, GAGA10,940,40763.8%+0.4 pts
27▼7Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23563.7%−1.6 pts
28Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.2%−0.3 pts
29▲4Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.1%+0.1 pts
30Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.1%−0.1 pts
31Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.0%−0.1 pts
32▼5Montana, MTMT1,116,87562.9%−0.6 pts
33▲4North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.8%+0.4 pts
34▼2New York, NYNY19,852,36662.7%−0.4 pts
35Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.7%−0.1 pts
36▲3Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38362.4%+0.9 pts
37▼1Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.3%−0.3 pts
38Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.1%−0.1 pts
39▼5Maine, MEME1,387,81761.7%−1.3 pts
40Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.3%−0.2 pts
41Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.2%+0.1 pts
42▲1Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.6%+0.6 pts
43▼1South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.5%+0.1 pts
44▲2Florida, FLFL22,416,07759.8%+0.8 pts
45▼1Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.7%+0.2 pts
46▼1Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.3%+0.1 pts
47Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.4%+0.3 pts
48▲1Alabama, ALAL5,086,76858.3%+0.8 pts
49▼1New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24657.8%+0.2 pts
50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77957.4%+0.1 pts
51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37353.8%+0.1 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest labor force participation?

District of Columbia ranks #1 with 71.6% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by labor force participation?

District of Columbia, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, Nebraska.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.

How is labor force participation measured?

Share of residents 16+ in the labor force. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).