RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Lowest labor force participation, US states

US states with the smallest share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2024 ACS). West Virginia leads at 53.8%. 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%–

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37353.8%+0%

02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77957.4%+0%

03New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24657.8%+0%

04Alabama, ALAL5,086,76858.3%+1%

05Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.4%+1%

06Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.3%+0%

07Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.7%+0%

08Florida, FLFL22,416,07759.8%+1%

09South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.5%+0%

10Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.6%+1%

11Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.2%+0%

12Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.3%−0%

13Maine, MEME1,387,81761.7%−2%

14Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.1%−0%

15Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.3%−0%

16Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38362.4%+1%

17Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.7%−0%

18New York, NYNY19,852,36662.7%−1%

19North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.8%+1%

20Montana, MTMT1,116,87562.9%−1%

21Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.0%−0%

22Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.1%−0%

23Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.1%+0%

24Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.2%−0%

25Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23563.7%−2%

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

27California, CACA39,287,37763.8%+0%

28Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%+0%

29Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.5%−0%

30Vermont, VTVT647,10664.6%−1%

31Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.0%−0%

32Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%+0%

33Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.1%−1%

34Texas, TXTX30,188,42465.3%+1%

35Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87265.3%−1%

36Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.4%−1%

37Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50865.9%−0%

38Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.1%−1%

39New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86866.3%−2%

40Alaska, AKAK735,70666.3%−2%

41New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80966.4%+1%

42Iowa, IAIA3,210,50766.4%−1%

43Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.0%−0%

44Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.1%−1%

45South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.2%−1%

46Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44568.1%−2%

47Nebraska, NENE1,978,70768.6%−1%

48North Dakota, NDND784,84168.6%−2%

49Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.6%+1%

50Utah, UTUT3,392,33169.6%+1%

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29471.6%+1%

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 lowest labor force participation?

West Virginia ranks #1 with 53.8% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by labor force participation?

West Virginia, Mississippi, New Mexico, Alabama, Arkansas.

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).