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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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RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2020
USUnited States334,922,49963.5%–
01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37353.8%+0.1 pts
02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77957.4%+0.1 pts
03New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24657.8%+0.2 pts
04Alabama, ALAL5,086,76858.3%+0.8 pts
05Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.4%+0.3 pts
06Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.3%+0.1 pts
07Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.7%+0.2 pts
08Florida, FLFL22,416,07759.8%+0.8 pts
09South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.5%+0.1 pts
10Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.6%+0.6 pts
11Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.2%+0.1 pts
12Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.3%−0.2 pts
13Maine, MEME1,387,81761.7%−1.3 pts
14Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.1%−0.1 pts
15Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.3%−0.3 pts
16Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38362.4%+0.9 pts
17Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.7%−0.1 pts
18New York, NYNY19,852,36662.7%−0.4 pts
19North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.8%+0.4 pts
20Montana, MTMT1,116,87562.9%−0.6 pts
21Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.0%−0.1 pts
22Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.1%−0.1 pts
23Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.1%+0.1 pts
24Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.2%−0.3 pts
25Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23563.7%−1.6 pts
26Georgia, GAGA10,940,40763.8%+0.4 pts
27California, CACA39,287,37763.8%+0.1 pts
28Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%+0.1 pts
29Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.5%−0.1 pts
30Vermont, VTVT647,10664.6%−0.8 pts
31Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.0%−0.2 pts
32Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%+0.1 pts
33Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.1%−0.7 pts
34Texas, TXTX30,188,42465.3%+0.4 pts
35Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87265.3%−0.9 pts
36Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.4%−0.5 pts
37Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50865.9%−0.1 pts
38Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.1%−0.5 pts
39New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86866.3%−1.1 pts
40Alaska, AKAK735,70666.3%−1.2 pts
41New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80966.4%+0.6 pts
42Iowa, IAIA3,210,50766.4%−0.6 pts
43Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.0%−0.2 pts
44Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.1%−0.5 pts
45South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.2%−0.7 pts
46Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44568.1%−1.1 pts
47Nebraska, NENE1,978,70768.6%−0.8 pts
48North Dakota, NDND784,84168.6%−1.7 pts
49Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.6%+0.4 pts
50Utah, UTUT3,392,33169.6%+0.8 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29471.6%+0.9 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · 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).