RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 918
Lowest labor force participation, US metro areas · 2020
US metro areas with the smallest share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2023 ACS). Wildwood-The Villages, FL leads at 22.6%. 918 metro areas qualify in total. Florida carries 4 of the top 25 entries.
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RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2000
UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES
Frequently asked
Which metro area has the lowest labor force participation?
Wildwood-The Villages, FL ranks #1 with 22.6% (2020 American Community Survey).
What are the top 5 metro areas by labor force participation?
Wildwood-The Villages, FL, Susanville, CA, Cañon City, CO, Middlesborough, KY, Homosassa Springs, FL.
How many metro areas are in this ranking?
918 metro areas qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 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 (2020).