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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.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2020
USUnited States334,922,49963.5%–
01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29471.6%+0.9 pts
02Utah, UTUT3,392,33169.6%+0.8 pts
03Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.6%+0.4 pts
04North Dakota, NDND784,84168.6%−1.7 pts
05Nebraska, NENE1,978,70768.6%−0.8 pts
06Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44568.1%−1.1 pts
07South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.2%−0.7 pts
08Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.1%−0.5 pts
09Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.0%−0.2 pts
10Iowa, IAIA3,210,50766.4%−0.6 pts
11New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80966.4%+0.6 pts
12Alaska, AKAK735,70666.3%−1.2 pts
13New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86866.3%−1.1 pts
14Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.1%−0.5 pts
15Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50865.9%−0.1 pts
16Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.4%−0.5 pts
17Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87265.3%−0.9 pts
18Texas, TXTX30,188,42465.3%+0.4 pts
19Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.1%−0.7 pts
20Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%+0.1 pts
21Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.0%−0.2 pts
22Vermont, VTVT647,10664.6%−0.8 pts
23Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.5%−0.1 pts
24Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%+0.1 pts
25California, CACA39,287,37763.8%+0.1 pts
26Georgia, GAGA10,940,40763.8%+0.4 pts
27Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23563.7%−1.6 pts
28Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.2%−0.3 pts
29Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.1%+0.1 pts
30Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.1%−0.1 pts
31Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.0%−0.1 pts
32Montana, MTMT1,116,87562.9%−0.6 pts
33North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.8%+0.4 pts
34New York, NYNY19,852,36662.7%−0.4 pts
35Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.7%−0.1 pts
36Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38362.4%+0.9 pts
37Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.3%−0.3 pts
38Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.1%−0.1 pts
39Maine, MEME1,387,81761.7%−1.3 pts
40Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.3%−0.2 pts
41Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.2%+0.1 pts
42Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.6%+0.6 pts
43South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.5%+0.1 pts
44Florida, FLFL22,416,07759.8%+0.8 pts
45Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.7%+0.2 pts
46Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.3%+0.1 pts
47Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.4%+0.3 pts
48Alabama, ALAL5,086,76858.3%+0.8 pts
49New 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 2026-08-08 · 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).