Annual Unemployment
Annual Average Unemployment Rate
What does this mean?
Annual Unemployment measures the percent of people who are able and actively looking for work, but who have not found it over the course of the year.
Why does this matter?
Unemployment is an indicator of economic health through demand for labor.
North Carolina Ranking
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* Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Region Comparison
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Annual Unemployment
Annual Unemployment
| State | 1999-01 | 2000-01 | 2001-01 | 2002-01 | 2003-01 | 2004-01 | 2005-01 | 2006-01 | 2007-01 | 2008-01 | 2009-01 | 2010-01 | 2011-01 | 2012-01 | 2013-01 | 2014-01 | 2015-01 | 2016-01 | 2017-01 | 2018-01 | 2019-01 | 2020-01 | 2021-01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4.70 | 4.60 | 5.20 | 5.90 | 6.00 | 5.60 | 4.40 | 4.00 | 4.10 | 5.80 | 10.10 | 10.40 | 9.60 | 8.20 | 7.30 | 6.70 | 6.10 | 5.90 | 4.60 | 3.90 | 3.00 | 5.90 | 3.40 |
| Alaska | 6.40 | 6.30 | 6.30 | 7.20 | 7.70 | 7.40 | 6.90 | 6.60 | 6.30 | 6.50 | 8.00 | 8.20 | 7.80 | 7.20 | 7.00 | 6.70 | 6.30 | 6.60 | 6.50 | 5.90 | 5.40 | 7.80 | 6.40 |
| Arizona | 4.50 | 4.00 | 4.70 | 6.20 | 5.80 | 5.00 | 4.70 | 4.30 | 3.80 | 5.80 | 9.70 | 10.30 | 9.40 | 8.30 | 7.80 | 6.80 | 6.10 | 5.50 | 4.90 | 4.80 | 4.90 | 7.90 | 4.90 |
| Arkansas | 4.50 | 4.20 | 4.80 | 5.30 | 5.80 | 5.60 | 5.30 | 5.20 | 5.40 | 5.40 | 7.70 | 7.90 | 7.90 | 7.30 | 7.10 | 5.90 | 5.00 | 4.00 | 3.70 | 3.70 | 3.50 | 6.10 | 4.00 |
| California | 5.30 | 4.90 | 5.50 | 6.80 | 6.90 | 6.20 | 5.40 | 4.90 | 5.30 | 7.30 | 11.50 | 12.50 | 11.90 | 10.50 | 9.00 | 7.60 | 6.30 | 5.50 | 4.80 | 4.30 | 4.20 | 10.10 | 7.30 |
| Colorado | 3.00 | 2.70 | 3.80 | 5.70 | 6.10 | 5.60 | 5.10 | 4.20 | 3.70 | 4.90 | 7.90 | 9.20 | 8.70 | 8.00 | 6.70 | 5.00 | 3.70 | 3.10 | 2.60 | 3.00 | 2.70 | 7.30 | 5.40 |
| Connecticut | 2.50 | 2.10 | 2.90 | 4.40 | 5.50 | 5.10 | 4.80 | 4.40 | 4.50 | 5.60 | 8.30 | 9.60 | 9.00 | 8.40 | 8.00 | 6.60 | 5.60 | 4.80 | 4.40 | 3.90 | 3.60 | 7.90 | 6.30 |
| Delaware | 3.30 | 3.60 | 3.60 | 4.30 | 4.50 | 4.30 | 4.50 | 3.90 | 3.60 | 5.00 | 8.40 | 8.70 | 7.60 | 7.10 | 6.60 | 5.60 | 4.80 | 4.50 | 4.40 | 3.70 | 3.70 | 7.80 | 5.30 |
| District of Columbia | 6.60 | 5.70 | 6.50 | 7.00 | 7.30 | 8.10 | 7.00 | 6.30 | 6.00 | 6.80 | 10.00 | 10.00 | 10.20 | 9.00 | 8.40 | 7.70 | 6.90 | 6.20 | 6.10 | 5.70 | 5.40 | 8.00 | 6.60 |
| Florida | 3.90 | 3.80 | 4.40 | 4.90 | 4.50 | 3.80 | 2.90 | 2.50 | 3.30 | 5.70 | 9.60 | 10.80 | 10.00 | 8.60 | 7.50 | 6.40 | 5.50 | 4.90 | 4.20 | 3.60 | 3.30 | 7.70 | 4.60 |
| Georgia | 3.80 | 3.50 | 4.10 | 5.30 | 5.10 | 5.10 | 5.70 | 5.10 | 4.90 | 6.80 | 10.40 | 10.70 | 10.10 | 9.00 | 8.10 | 7.10 | 6.10 | 5.40 | 4.80 | 4.00 | 3.50 | 6.50 | 3.90 |
| Hawaii | 5.20 | 4.20 | 4.30 | 4.00 | 3.90 | 3.30 | 2.80 | 2.50 | 2.70 | 4.00 | 6.70 | 6.80 | 6.80 | 5.90 | 4.80 | 4.20 | 3.40 | 2.90 | 2.20 | 2.40 | 2.50 | 11.60 | 5.70 |
| Idaho | 5.00 | 4.70 | 5.10 | 5.60 | 5.60 | 4.90 | 4.00 | 3.40 | 3.10 | 5.00 | 8.70 | 8.80 | 8.20 | 7.40 | 6.80 | 4.40 | 3.90 | 3.70 | 3.20 | 2.80 | 2.80 | 5.40 | 3.60 |
| Illinois | 4.40 | 4.40 | 5.40 | 6.60 | 6.70 | 6.20 | 5.70 | 4.60 | 5.10 | 6.50 | 10.20 | 10.50 | 9.80 | 9.00 | 9.10 | 7.20 | 6.00 | 5.90 | 5.00 | 4.40 | 4.00 | 9.50 | 6.10 |
| Indiana | 2.90 | 3.00 | 4.20 | 5.20 | 5.30 | 5.40 | 5.40 | 5.00 | 4.60 | 5.90 | 10.50 | 10.10 | 8.90 | 8.20 | 7.50 | 5.90 | 4.80 | 4.40 | 3.50 | 3.40 | 3.20 | 7.10 | 3.60 |
| Iowa | 2.70 | 2.70 | 3.30 | 4.00 | 4.40 | 4.50 | 4.30 | 3.70 | 3.70 | 4.10 | 6.40 | 6.10 | 5.60 | 5.10 | 4.70 | 4.20 | 3.70 | 3.60 | 3.10 | 2.60 | 2.80 | 5.30 | 4.20 |
| Kansas | 3.50 | 3.80 | 4.30 | 5.10 | 5.50 | 5.50 | 5.10 | 4.40 | 4.30 | 4.60 | 6.90 | 7.00 | 6.40 | 5.70 | 5.30 | 4.50 | 4.20 | 4.00 | 3.60 | 3.30 | 3.20 | 5.90 | 3.20 |
| Kentucky | 4.50 | 4.10 | 5.20 | 5.80 | 6.20 | 5.50 | 5.90 | 5.70 | 5.40 | 6.50 | 10.80 | 10.30 | 9.40 | 8.20 | 7.90 | 6.40 | 5.20 | 5.00 | 4.80 | 4.20 | 4.10 | 6.60 | 4.70 |
| Louisiana | 5.00 | 5.20 | 5.60 | 6.00 | 6.30 | 5.70 | 7.20 | 4.10 | 4.10 | 4.70 | 6.80 | 7.50 | 7.40 | 6.70 | 6.40 | 6.30 | 6.30 | 6.10 | 5.10 | 4.80 | 4.70 | 8.30 | 5.50 |
| Maine | 4.00 | 3.30 | 3.80 | 4.50 | 5.10 | 4.70 | 4.90 | 4.70 | 4.70 | 5.30 | 8.40 | 8.40 | 7.70 | 7.20 | 6.70 | 5.60 | 4.40 | 3.80 | 3.40 | 3.10 | 2.70 | 5.40 | 4.60 |
| Maryland | 3.50 | 3.50 | 4.20 | 4.80 | 4.80 | 4.60 | 4.50 | 4.20 | 3.70 | 4.50 | 7.60 | 7.80 | 7.30 | 6.90 | 6.50 | 5.70 | 5.00 | 4.30 | 4.10 | 3.80 | 3.50 | 6.80 | 5.80 |
| Massachusetts | 3.30 | 2.80 | 3.80 | 5.20 | 5.70 | 5.10 | 4.80 | 4.70 | 4.50 | 5.30 | 8.10 | 8.10 | 7.20 | 6.70 | 6.60 | 5.70 | 4.80 | 4.00 | 3.80 | 3.40 | 3.00 | 8.90 | 5.70 |
| Michigan | 3.80 | 3.60 | 5.20 | 6.20 | 7.10 | 7.00 | 6.80 | 7.00 | 7.10 | 8.20 | 13.10 | 12.20 | 10.00 | 9.00 | 8.70 | 7.20 | 5.40 | 5.00 | 4.60 | 4.20 | 4.10 | 9.90 | 5.90 |
| Minnesota | 2.70 | 3.00 | 3.80 | 4.50 | 4.80 | 4.60 | 4.10 | 4.10 | 4.60 | 5.40 | 7.90 | 7.40 | 6.50 | 5.60 | 5.00 | 4.30 | 3.80 | 3.90 | 3.40 | 3.00 | 3.20 | 6.20 | 3.40 |
| Mississippi | 5.10 | 5.30 | 5.50 | 6.40 | 6.10 | 6.10 | 7.60 | 6.40 | 6.20 | 6.70 | 9.40 | 10.10 | 9.80 | 8.80 | 8.50 | 7.60 | 6.50 | 5.90 | 5.20 | 5.00 | 5.50 | 8.10 | 5.60 |
| Missouri | 3.20 | 3.40 | 4.50 | 5.30 | 5.70 | 5.90 | 5.40 | 4.90 | 5.10 | 6.20 | 9.00 | 9.50 | 8.60 | 7.20 | 6.80 | 6.20 | 5.10 | 4.50 | 3.80 | 3.20 | 3.30 | 6.10 | 4.40 |
| Montana | 5.30 | 4.80 | 4.60 | 4.60 | 4.70 | 4.50 | 4.10 | 3.30 | 3.40 | 4.70 | 7.10 | 7.20 | 6.60 | 5.80 | 5.40 | 4.70 | 4.30 | 4.30 | 4.10 | 3.80 | 3.60 | 5.90 | 3.40 |
| Nebraska | 2.70 | 2.80 | 3.10 | 3.70 | 3.90 | 3.90 | 3.80 | 3.00 | 2.90 | 3.20 | 4.70 | 4.70 | 4.40 | 3.90 | 3.70 | 3.30 | 3.00 | 3.10 | 2.90 | 2.90 | 3.00 | 4.20 | 2.50 |
| Nevada | 4.00 | 4.10 | 5.20 | 5.70 | 5.30 | 4.40 | 4.10 | 4.00 | 4.60 | 6.90 | 11.70 | 13.80 | 13.30 | 11.60 | 10.00 | 8.20 | 6.80 | 5.80 | 5.00 | 4.40 | 3.90 | 12.80 | 7.20 |
| New Hampshire | 2.70 | 2.70 | 3.40 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 3.80 | 3.60 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.70 | 6.10 | 6.10 | 5.50 | 5.40 | 5.30 | 4.30 | 3.40 | 2.90 | 2.80 | 2.60 | 2.60 | 6.70 | 3.50 |
| New Jersey | 4.40 | 3.70 | 4.20 | 5.80 | 5.80 | 4.90 | 4.40 | 4.60 | 4.20 | 5.40 | 9.00 | 9.70 | 9.40 | 9.40 | 8.40 | 6.70 | 5.70 | 4.90 | 4.50 | 4.00 | 3.40 | 9.80 | 6.30 |
| New Mexico | 5.60 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.50 | 5.90 | 5.60 | 5.20 | 4.20 | 3.60 | 4.30 | 7.10 | 7.80 | 7.20 | 7.00 | 6.90 | 6.60 | 6.60 | 6.70 | 6.10 | 4.90 | 5.00 | 8.40 | 6.80 |
| New York | 5.20 | 4.50 | 4.90 | 6.20 | 6.40 | 5.80 | 5.00 | 4.50 | 4.40 | 5.40 | 8.40 | 8.70 | 8.30 | 8.60 | 7.80 | 6.30 | 5.20 | 4.90 | 4.60 | 4.10 | 3.80 | 10.00 | 6.90 |
| North Carolina | 3.30 | 3.70 | 5.60 | 6.90 | 6.70 | 5.90 | 5.60 | 5.10 | 5.10 | 6.20 | 11.00 | 10.70 | 10.30 | 9.50 | 7.80 | 6.10 | 5.70 | 5.10 | 4.50 | 4.00 | 3.80 | 7.30 | 4.80 |
| North Dakota | 3.10 | 3.00 | 2.80 | 3.40 | 3.50 | 3.40 | 3.30 | 3.10 | 3.00 | 3.10 | 3.90 | 3.70 | 3.30 | 2.90 | 2.90 | 2.60 | 2.80 | 3.10 | 2.70 | 2.50 | 2.30 | 5.10 | 3.70 |
| Ohio | 4.30 | 4.10 | 4.40 | 5.80 | 6.20 | 6.30 | 5.90 | 5.40 | 5.60 | 6.60 | 10.20 | 10.30 | 8.80 | 7.40 | 7.50 | 5.80 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 | 4.50 | 4.20 | 8.10 | 5.10 |
| Oklahoma | 3.50 | 3.00 | 3.60 | 4.60 | 5.40 | 4.70 | 4.30 | 3.90 | 4.00 | 3.60 | 6.60 | 6.50 | 5.60 | 5.10 | 5.10 | 4.30 | 4.30 | 4.60 | 4.00 | 3.30 | 3.10 | 6.10 | 3.80 |
| Oregon | 5.50 | 5.20 | 6.40 | 7.50 | 8.00 | 7.40 | 6.20 | 5.40 | 5.20 | 6.20 | 10.80 | 10.70 | 9.60 | 8.80 | 7.80 | 6.70 | 5.50 | 4.70 | 4.10 | 4.00 | 3.70 | 7.60 | 5.20 |
| Pennsylvania | 4.50 | 4.20 | 4.80 | 5.60 | 5.70 | 5.40 | 5.00 | 4.70 | 4.60 | 5.30 | 8.00 | 8.20 | 7.80 | 7.70 | 7.10 | 5.90 | 5.40 | 5.30 | 5.00 | 4.40 | 4.50 | 9.10 | 6.30 |
| Rhode Island | 4.20 | 4.00 | 4.50 | 5.10 | 5.60 | 5.30 | 5.10 | 5.20 | 5.10 | 7.60 | 11.40 | 11.60 | 11.00 | 10.20 | 9.50 | 7.80 | 6.00 | 5.20 | 4.50 | 4.10 | 3.60 | 9.40 | 5.60 |
| South Carolina | 4.10 | 3.70 | 5.30 | 6.40 | 7.20 | 7.40 | 7.30 | 6.90 | 6.10 | 7.30 | 11.40 | 11.30 | 10.40 | 9.00 | 7.40 | 6.30 | 5.90 | 4.90 | 4.20 | 3.40 | 2.80 | 6.20 | 4.00 |
| South Dakota | 2.70 | 2.50 | 3.00 | 3.20 | 3.50 | 3.60 | 3.60 | 3.00 | 2.80 | 3.10 | 4.60 | 4.90 | 4.60 | 4.10 | 3.70 | 3.30 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 3.10 | 2.90 | 3.00 | 4.60 | 3.10 |
| Tennessee | 4.00 | 3.90 | 4.50 | 5.10 | 5.50 | 5.30 | 5.50 | 5.30 | 4.60 | 6.50 | 10.10 | 9.80 | 9.10 | 8.00 | 7.80 | 6.60 | 5.60 | 4.70 | 3.70 | 3.50 | 3.40 | 7.50 | 4.30 |
| Texas | 4.70 | 4.40 | 5.00 | 6.30 | 6.70 | 6.00 | 5.50 | 5.00 | 4.40 | 4.90 | 7.50 | 8.20 | 8.00 | 6.70 | 6.30 | 5.20 | 4.50 | 4.60 | 4.30 | 3.90 | 3.50 | 7.60 | 5.70 |
| Utah | 3.50 | 3.30 | 4.40 | 5.70 | 5.60 | 5.00 | 4.00 | 2.80 | 2.60 | 3.30 | 7.30 | 7.90 | 7.10 | 4.80 | 4.20 | 3.60 | 3.50 | 3.30 | 3.10 | 2.90 | 2.50 | 4.70 | 2.70 |
| Vermont | 3.10 | 2.80 | 3.30 | 3.80 | 4.40 | 3.70 | 3.50 | 3.70 | 3.90 | 4.50 | 6.20 | 6.30 | 5.60 | 4.80 | 4.40 | 4.00 | 3.50 | 3.10 | 3.00 | 2.60 | 2.30 | 5.60 | 3.40 |
| Virginia | 2.70 | 2.30 | 3.30 | 4.40 | 4.30 | 4.10 | 3.80 | 3.30 | 3.30 | 4.30 | 6.80 | 7.30 | 6.60 | 5.90 | 5.60 | 5.10 | 4.40 | 4.00 | 3.70 | 2.90 | 2.70 | 6.20 | 3.90 |
| Washington | 4.80 | 5.10 | 6.00 | 7.10 | 7.20 | 6.30 | 5.60 | 5.00 | 4.60 | 5.20 | 8.30 | 9.10 | 8.50 | 7.70 | 6.60 | 5.90 | 5.40 | 5.20 | 4.60 | 4.40 | 4.10 | 8.40 | 5.20 |
| West Virginia | 6.50 | 5.60 | 5.40 | 6.50 | 6.60 | 5.80 | 5.50 | 5.20 | 4.80 | 4.70 | 8.30 | 8.70 | 7.80 | 7.20 | 6.70 | 6.50 | 6.60 | 6.10 | 5.20 | 5.20 | 4.90 | 8.30 | 5.00 |
| Wisconsin | 3.10 | 3.40 | 4.40 | 5.30 | 5.60 | 5.00 | 4.80 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 4.90 | 9.00 | 8.50 | 7.60 | 6.90 | 6.70 | 5.30 | 4.40 | 3.90 | 3.30 | 3.00 | 3.30 | 6.30 | 3.80 |
| Wyoming | 4.70 | 3.80 | 3.80 | 4.00 | 4.30 | 3.80 | 3.60 | 3.00 | 2.60 | 2.90 | 6.30 | 6.90 | 6.20 | 5.50 | 4.80 | 4.30 | 4.20 | 5.40 | 4.30 | 4.00 | 3.70 | 5.80 | 4.50 |
| U.S. Average | 4.11 | 3.88 | 4.53 | 5.39 | 5.63 | 5.26 | 4.97 | 4.48 | 4.38 | 5.34 | 8.51 | 8.77 | 8.13 | 7.32 | 6.75 | 5.74 | 5.01 | 4.65 | 4.16 | 3.77 | 3.58 | 7.37 | 4.84 |