RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most unemployed people, US states · 2020

US states with the most unemployed people in the civilian labor force, as of the 2020 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the unemployment rate. California leads at 1,229,079. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 300,624, against an all-states median of 116,234.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPUNEMPLOYED RESIDENTSVS –

USUnited States2.7% of US population331,449,2818,870,516–

01California, CACA39,287,3771,229,079–

02Texas, TXTX30,188,424752,884–

03New York, NYNY19,852,366570,570–

04Florida, FLFL22,416,077556,113–

05Illinois, ILIL12,694,798395,142–

06Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,639351,248–

07Ohio, OHOH11,810,293313,829–

08Michigan, MIMI10,077,761298,142–

09Georgia, GAGA10,940,407291,506–

10North Carolina, NCNC10,730,404278,344–

11New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,809271,795–

12Virginia, VAVA8,705,170202,745–

13Arizona, AZAZ7,378,838199,358–

14Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,056193,769–

15Washington, WAWA7,816,116188,562–

16Tennessee, TNTN7,066,383177,361–

17Maryland, MDMD6,206,011167,571–

18Indiana, ININ6,851,073159,865–

19Colorado, COCO5,862,189142,722–

20Louisiana, LALA4,611,961142,088–

21Missouri, MOMO6,191,814138,673–

22South Carolina, SCSC5,296,225135,484–

23Alabama, ALAL5,086,768125,343–

24Minnesota, MNMN5,739,445117,117–

25Oregon, OROR4,254,293116,297–

26Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508116,234–

27Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824113,295–

28Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,872109,854–

29Nevada, NVNV3,184,612100,222–

30Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63495,441–

31Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77995,379–

32Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39171,704–

33Iowa, IAIA3,210,50765,738–

34New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24662,580–

35Kansas, KSKS2,947,19761,359–

36Utah, UTUT3,392,33157,829–

37West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37352,031–

38Idaho, IDID1,934,26235,955–

39Nebraska, NENE1,978,70735,114–

40Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23532,187–

41Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80131,263–

42District of Columbia, DCDC681,29429,290–

43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86828,479–

44Maine, MEME1,387,81728,442–

45Delaware, DEDE1,021,19128,334–

46Alaska, AKAK735,70626,429–

47Montana, MTMT1,116,87522,541–

48South Dakota, SDSD907,42816,281–

49Wyoming, WYWY582,39713,222–

50North Dakota, NDND784,84112,861–

51Vermont, VTVT647,10612,845–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest unemployed residents?

California ranks #1 with 1,229,079 (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by unemployed residents?

California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 Decennial Census data.

How is unemployed residents measured?

Number of unemployed people in the civilian labor force 16 and over (ACS B23025). The raw-count companion to the unemployment rate. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.