RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Highest labor force participation, US states · 2020

US states ranked by the share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2020 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 70.7%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS –

USUnited States331,449,28163.4%–

01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29470.7%–

02North Dakota, NDND784,84170.3%–

03Nebraska, NENE1,978,70769.3%–

04Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44569.3%–

05Utah, UTUT3,392,33168.8%–

06Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.2%–

07South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.9%–

08Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.6%–

09Alaska, AKAK735,70667.5%–

10New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86867.3%–

11Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.2%–

12Iowa, IAIA3,210,50767.1%–

13Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.6%–

14Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87266.1%–

15Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50866.0%–

16Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.9%–

17Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.8%–

18New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80965.8%–

19Vermont, VTVT647,10665.4%–

20Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23565.3%–

21Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.2%–

22Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%–

23Texas, TXTX30,188,42464.8%–

24Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.7%–

25Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%–

26California, CACA39,287,37763.7%–

27Montana, MTMT1,116,87563.5%–

28Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.4%–

29Georgia, GAGA10,940,40763.3%–

30Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.2%–

31Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.1%–

32New York, NYNY19,852,36663.1%–

33Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.0%–

34Maine, MEME1,387,81763.0%–

35Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.8%–

36Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.6%–

37North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.4%–

38Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.2%–

39Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38361.5%–

40Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.5%–

41Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.1%–

42South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.4%–

43Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.1%–

44Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.5%–

45Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.2%–

46Florida, FLFL22,416,07758.9%–

47Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.1%–

48New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24657.6%–

49Alabama, ALAL5,086,76857.6%–

50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77957.3%–

51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37353.7%–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest labor force participation?

District of Columbia ranks #1 with 70.7% (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by labor force participation?

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is labor force participation measured?

Share of residents 16+ in the labor force. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.