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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. The median across all 51 is 63.8%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Hawaii, HI, up 7 places to #25.

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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
03▲1New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24657.8%+0.2 pts
04▼1Alabama, ALAL5,086,76858.3%+0.8 pts
05Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.4%+0.3 pts
06▲1Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.3%+0.1 pts
07▲1Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.7%+0.2 pts
08▼2Florida, FLFL22,416,07759.8%+0.8 pts
09▲1South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.5%+0.1 pts
10▼1Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.6%+0.6 pts
11Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.2%+0.1 pts
12Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.3%−0.2 pts
13▲5Maine, MEME1,387,81761.7%−1.3 pts
14Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.1%−0.1 pts
15▲1Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.3%−0.3 pts
16▼3Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38362.4%+0.9 pts
17Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.7%−0.1 pts
18▲2New York, NYNY19,852,36662.7%−0.4 pts
19▼4North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.8%+0.4 pts
20▲5Montana, MTMT1,116,87562.9%−0.6 pts
21Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.0%−0.1 pts
22Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.1%−0.1 pts
23▼4Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.1%+0.1 pts
24Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.2%−0.3 pts
25▲7Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23563.7%−1.6 pts
26▼3Georgia, GAGA10,940,40763.8%+0.4 pts
27▼1California, CACA39,287,37763.8%+0.1 pts
28▼1Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%+0.1 pts
29▼1Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.5%−0.1 pts
30▲3Vermont, VTVT647,10664.6%−0.8 pts
31Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.0%−0.2 pts
32▼2Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%+0.1 pts
33▲3Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.1%−0.7 pts
34▼5Texas, TXTX30,188,42465.3%+0.4 pts
35▲3Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87265.3%−0.9 pts
36▼1Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.4%−0.5 pts
37Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50865.9%−0.1 pts
38▲1Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.1%−0.5 pts
39▲3New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86866.3%−1.1 pts
40▲3Alaska, AKAK735,70666.3%−1.2 pts
41▼7New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80966.4%+0.6 pts
42▼2Iowa, IAIA3,210,50766.4%−0.6 pts
43▼2Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.0%−0.2 pts
44Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.1%−0.5 pts
45South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.2%−0.7 pts
46▲2Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44568.1%−1.1 pts
47▲2Nebraska, NENE1,978,70768.6%−0.8 pts
48▲2North Dakota, NDND784,84168.6%−1.7 pts
49▼3Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.6%+0.4 pts
50▼3Utah, UTUT3,392,33169.6%+0.8 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29471.6%+0.9 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · 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).