State unemployment rates, a brief comparison July 2025
In July 2025, the District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 6.0 percent. The next highest rates were in California, 5.5 percent, and Nevada, 5.4 percent. South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in July, 1.9 percent. Arkansas' unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent. In total, 21 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.2 percent, 4 states and the District had higher rates, and 25 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from July 2024, the largest of which was in Mississippi (+0.9 percentage point). Arkansas experienced a 12-month increase of 0.3 percentage points (Arkansas' unemployment rate in July 2024 was 3.4 percent.) Five states had over-the-year rate decreases, the largest of which was in Indiana (-0.7 percentage point). Twenty-eight states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.
These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To access interactive map, see original article published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/the-district-of-columbia-had-the-highest-unemployment-rate-in-july-2025-at-6-0-percent.htm
Tags: Unemployment and Labor Force Participation
