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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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2020

USUnited States334,922,49963.5%–

01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29471.6%+1%

02Utah, UTUT3,392,33169.6%+1%

03Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.6%+1%

04North Dakota, NDND784,84168.6%−2%

05Nebraska, NENE1,978,70768.6%−1%

06Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44568.1%−2%

07South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.2%−1%

08Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.1%−1%

09Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.0%−0%

10Iowa, IAIA3,210,50766.4%−1%

11New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80966.4%+1%

12Alaska, AKAK735,70666.3%−2%

13New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86866.3%−2%

14Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.1%−1%

15Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50865.9%−0%

16Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.4%−1%

17Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87265.3%−1%

18Texas, TXTX30,188,42465.3%+1%

19Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.1%−1%

20Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%+0%

21Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.0%−0%

22Vermont, VTVT647,10664.6%−1%

23Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.5%−0%

24Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%+0%

25California, CACA39,287,37763.8%+0%

26Georgia, GAGA10,940,40763.8%+1%

27Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23563.7%−2%

28Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.2%−0%

29Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.1%+0%

30Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.1%−0%

31Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.0%−0%

32Montana, MTMT1,116,87562.9%−1%

33North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.8%+1%

34New York, NYNY19,852,36662.7%−1%

35Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.7%−0%

36Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38362.4%+1%

37Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.3%−0%

38Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.1%−0%

39Maine, MEME1,387,81761.7%−2%

40Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.3%−0%

41Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.2%+0%

42Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.6%+1%

43South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.5%+0%

44Florida, FLFL22,416,07759.8%+1%

45Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.7%+0%

46Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.3%+0%

47Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.4%+1%

48Alabama, ALAL5,086,76858.3%+1%

49New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24657.8%+0%

50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77957.4%+0%

51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37353.8%+0%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · 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).