RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Lowest labor force participation, US states · 2020

US states with the smallest share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2023 ACS). West Virginia leads at 53.7%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS 2000

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37353.7%–

02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77957.3%–

03Alabama, ALAL5,086,76857.6%–

04New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24657.6%–

05Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39158.1%–

06Florida, FLFL22,416,07758.9%–

07Louisiana, LALA4,611,96159.2%–

08Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82459.5%–

09Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83860.1%–

10South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22560.4%–

11Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63461.1%–

12Michigan, MIMI10,077,76161.5%–

13Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38361.5%–

14Delaware, DEDE1,021,19162.2%–

15North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40462.4%–

16Oregon, OROR4,254,29362.6%–

17Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63962.8%–

18Maine, MEME1,387,81763.0%–

19Missouri, MOMO6,191,81463.0%–

20New York, NYNY19,852,36663.1%–

21Idaho, IDID1,934,26263.1%–

22Ohio, OHOH11,810,29363.2%–

23Georgia, GAGA10,940,40763.3%–

24Nevada, NVNV3,184,61263.4%–

25Montana, MTMT1,116,87563.5%–

26California, CACA39,287,37763.7%–

27Indiana, ININ6,851,07363.8%–

28Washington, WAWA7,816,11664.7%–

29Texas, TXTX30,188,42464.8%–

30Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80165.0%–

31Illinois, ILIL12,694,79865.2%–

32Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23565.3%–

33Vermont, VTVT647,10665.4%–

34New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80965.8%–

35Virginia, VAVA8,705,17065.8%–

36Wyoming, WYWY582,39765.9%–

37Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50866.0%–

38Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87266.1%–

39Kansas, KSKS2,947,19766.6%–

40Iowa, IAIA3,210,50767.1%–

41Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05667.2%–

42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86867.3%–

43Alaska, AKAK735,70667.5%–

44Maryland, MDMD6,206,01167.6%–

45South Dakota, SDSD907,42867.9%–

46Colorado, COCO5,862,18968.2%–

47Utah, UTUT3,392,33168.8%–

48Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44569.3%–

49Nebraska, NENE1,978,70769.3%–

50North Dakota, NDND784,84170.3%–

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29470.7%–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest labor force participation?

West Virginia ranks #1 with 53.7% (2020 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by labor force participation?

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states 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).