U.S. monthly state unemployment rate 2023

In October 2023, Nevada and the District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rates of any state in the United States. The unemployment rate in Nevada was 5.4, and five in the District of Columbia. California also had a high unemployment rate, reaching 4.8 percent during the same time period.

Unemployment in the U.S.

A person is considered unemployed if they have no job and are currently looking for a job and available to work. The unemployment rate in the United States varies across states. Nation-wide unemployment was 3.4 percent as of April, 2023. Unemployment can be affected by various factors including economic conditions and global competition. During economic prosperity, unemployment rates generally decrease and during times of recession, rates increase. The seasons can also have an impact on the unemployment rate, especially during winter when there is lower demand for construction workers or other professionals who typically work outdoors. The retail sector also experiences fluctuating demand for workers, particularly during the holiday-shopping season when demand for workers increases. For this reason, labor statistics are usually presented as being either seasonally adjusted or unadjusted. The data presented in this statistic have been seasonally adjusted, but the monthly unadjusted unemployment rate can be accessed here.