State Unemployment by Race and Ethnicity

Labor market resilience, well-managed inflation, and hard-won progress on racial inequality

Key numbers • 2024 Q4

D.C. Highest Black-white unemployment ratio 4.5-to-1
D.C. Highest Hispanic-white unemployment ratio 2.8-to-1
U.S. National Black-white unemployment ratio 1.9-to-1
U.S. National Hispanic-white unemployment ratio 1.6-to-1

2024 Q4 • Updated February 2025

The fourth quarter of 2024 saw a resilient labor market with persistent, but diminishing, racial disparities in employment

By Kyle K. Moore

EPI analyzes national and state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity, and racial/ethnic unemployment rate gaps on a quarterly basis to generate a consistent sample to create reliable and precise estimates of unemployment rates by race and ethnicity at the state level.  

We report estimates for all states and subgroups, flagging those for which constructed unemployment rates are heavily weighted by national-level data with an asterisk (*) (see methodological note). The following analysis contains data on the fourth quarter of 2024. 

Methodological note

For the 2024 Q4 publication, EPI has updated the weights used to construct the state-level unemployment rates based on revisions of the source data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result, unemployment rates for the following demographic groups and states are calculated using new weights and are not comparable to estimates published in previous quarters:

  • AAPI: Alaska, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Nevada
  • Black: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, and North Dakota
  • Hispanic: Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, and Oregon

As of 2022 Q2, EPI has updated its methodology for constructing state-level unemployment rates and ratios by race/ethnicity, with the goal of providing a more consistent set of states for analysis from quarter to quarter. The new methodology uses a longer time horizon of state-level unemployment data from the Current Population Survey (12 months vs. 6 months) and leverages national-level data to better represent state-level race groupings that traditionally have been dropped from the analysis due to low sample size. As a result of this methodological change, reports in this series from 2022 Q2 forward are not directly comparable with reports prior to 2022 Q2. 

In contrast to previous reports, all states now have listed unemployment rates for each of the four analyzed groups for every quarter. However, those states and demographic groups with typically small sample sizes require a heavier weighting of national-level data to supplement their analysis and are noted as such with an asterisk (*). These estimates should be interpreted with caution as they may be less precise or representative measures of state-specific conditions than those calculated in states with larger sample sizes. The full methodological update is detailed in our technical report.1

Fourth-quarter 2024 state unemployment rates, trends, and ratios 

The last quarter of the Biden administration saw a resilient labor market with well-managed inflation and hard-won progress on racial inequality

Moving into the last quarter of 2024, the overall economy remained relatively strong, even reflecting slight improvements from the third quarter. The national unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1% in the fourth quarter, down from 4.2% in Q3. Nevada and Washington, D.C., once again had the highest overall unemployment rates in the country, at 5.7% and 5.6% respectively. South Dakota had the lowest and only sub-2% unemployment rate at 1.9%, followed by North Dakota and Vermont at 2.4%. No state saw changes in their overall unemployment rates of more than 1 percentage point between the third and fourth quarters, marking the period as relatively stable from a labor market perspective.

Overall unemployment rates 2024 Q4

Highest: Nev. (5.7%) , D.C. (5.6%)

Lowest:  S.D. (1.9%), N.D. (2.4%), Vt. (2.4%)  

National: 4.1%

The fourth quarter’s labor market stability is characteristic of the entirety of 2024. Relative economic stability, well-managed inflation, and steady economic growth will be the economic legacy of the last year of the Biden administration. And the true legacy of the administration, if one considers the entire four years, will be successfully the way out of a deep, pandemic-induced recession; meeting the moment by providing working families with economic support when they needed it most; and managing inflation better than many—if not all—of our economic peers. This period was also characterized by economic growth that strongly benefitted the working class and people of color. Though white workers recovered more quickly from the pandemic recession, this period also saw the prime-age employment rates hit an all-time high for Black and Hispanic workers, as well as historic wage growth for low-wage workers.

Interactive Map

State unemployment rates, by race/ethnicity and overall, 2024 Q4

State All White Black Hispanic AAPI
United States 4.1% 3.3% 6.4% 5.2% 3.7%
Alabama 3.1% 2.7% 4.1% 3.9%* 2.8%*
Alaska 4.6% 2.6% 7.1%* 5.2%* 3.8%*
Arizona 3.7% 3.0% 4.8%* 4.4% 3.4%*
Arkansas 3.3% 3.1% 4.4% 4.1%* 3.0%*
California 5.4% 4.9% 7.9% 6.2% 3.9%
Colorado 4.3% 3.6% 6.9%* 5.7% 3.8%*
Connecticut 3.0% 2.6% 4.2%* 3.9% 2.7%*
Delaware 3.9% 2.8% 5.4% 5.1%* 3.5%*
Florida 3.4% 2.7% 5.3% 3.4% 3.2%*
Georgia 3.7% 2.6% 5.2% 4.2%* 3.3%*
Hawaii 2.9% 3.7% 4.5%* 3.8%* 2.5%
Idaho 3.7% 3.7% 5.8%* 4.1% 3.4%*
Illinois 5.3% 4.0% 7.7% 7.7% 4.9%
Indiana 4.4% 3.6% 7.3% 6.0%* 4.0%*
Iowa 3.1% 2.5% 4.8%* 3.9%* 2.8%*
Kansas 3.5% 3.0% 5.6%* 4.7%* 3.1%*
Kentucky 5.1% 3.5% 9.8% 6.4%* 4.6%*
Louisiana 4.3% 2.9% 6.4% 5.5% 3.8%*
Maine 3.1% 3.0% 4.7%* 3.9%* 2.8%*
Maryland 3.1% 2.3% 4.2% 3.9%* 2.8%*
Massachusetts 4.0% 3.7% 6.1% 5.1% 3.3%
Michigan 4.8% 4.2% 8.1% 5.7% 4.3%*
Minnesota 3.4% 2.8% 5.4%* 4.3%* 3.1%*
Mississippi 3.1% 2.4% 4.3% 3.9%* 2.8%*
Missouri 3.7% 3.1% 6.2% 4.7%* 3.4%*
Montana 3.2% 2.8% 4.9%* 4.0%* 2.9%*
Nebraska 2.8% 2.2% 4.3%* 4.2%* 2.5%*
Nevada 5.7% 5.3% 7.0% 6.0% 4.3%
New Hampshire 2.5% 2.4% 3.9%* 3.2%* 2.3%*
New Jersey 4.6% 3.8% 7.6% 4.4% 5.0%
New Mexico 4.4% 2.8% 6.5%* 4.2% 3.9%*
New York 4.4% 3.2% 7.9% 6.0% 3.4%
North Carolina 3.7% 3.0% 6.1% 3.6% 3.3%*
North Dakota 2.4% 1.8% 3.8%* 3.1%* 2.2%*
Ohio 4.3% 3.4% 9.3% 5.2%* 3.9%*
Oklahoma 3.3% 3.2% 4.6%* 3.9% 3.0%*
Oregon 4.0% 3.6% 6.2%* 5.1% 3.7%*
Pennsylvania 3.5% 3.0% 5.2% 7.6% 3.1%*
Rhode Island 4.6% 4.4% 7.1%* 5.8% 4.1%*
South Carolina 4.7% 3.3% 8.0% 6.0%* 4.2%*
South Dakota 1.9% 1.5% 2.9%* 2.4%* 1.7%*
Tennessee 3.5% 2.8% 6.2% 4.2%* 3.1%*
Texas 4.2% 2.9% 6.6% 4.5% 4.1%
Utah 3.5% 3.1% 5.4%* 4.6% 3.1%*
Vermont 2.4% 2.3% 3.7%* 3.0%* 2.1%*
Virginia 3.0% 2.2% 5.3% 3.3% 2.7%*
Washington 4.6% 4.1% 7.0%* 7.1% 3.8%
Washington D.C. 5.6% 2.4% 10.7% 6.8% 5.0%*
West Virginia 4.2% 4.2% 6.6%* 5.3%* 3.8%*
Wisconsin 2.9% 2.3% 5.8%* 4.2%* 2.6%*
Wyoming 3.3% 2.9% 5.1%* 4.5% 3.0%*

Notes: AAPI stands for Asian American and Pacific Islander. Unemployment rates for each demographic group are produced from a weighted average of state and national unemployment trends. Those states and demographic groups with typically small sample sizes require a heavier weighting of national-level data to supplement their analysis. See methodological note for more detail. 

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data.

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Fourth-quarter 2024 trends among white workers 

Most states had white unemployment rates below 4% in the fourth quarter of 2024 (44 states including Washington, D.C.). Nevada and California had the highest unemployment rates for white workers, at 5.3% and 4.9% respectively. In total, seven states had white unemployment rates at 4% or above (in ascending order: Illinois, Washington, West Virginia, Michigan, Rhode Island, California, and Nevada). Two states, South and North Dakota, had white unemployment rates below 2% (at 1.5% and 1.8% respectively). The national white unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous quarter, at 3.3%.

White unemployment rates 2024 Q4

Highest: Nev. (5.3%) ,Calif. (4.9%)

Lowest: S.D. (1.5%), N.D. (1.8%)

National: 3.3%

Fourth-quarter 2024 trends among Black workers 

Washington, D.C., and Kentucky once again had the highest Black unemployment rates in the country in the fourth quarter, at 10.7% and 9.8% respectively. Among states with a large enough Black sample size for precise estimation, Alabama had the lowest Black unemployment rate at 4.1%. South Dakota had the lowest Black unemployment rate across all states at 2.9%, but has a relatively low Black worker population, making the estimates there less precise.  Massachusetts and Tennessee saw increases in their Black unemployment rates (both rising by 1.2%). Nationally, the Black unemployment rate fell to 6.4% from 6.5% in the previous quarter.

Black unemployment rates 2024 Q4

Highest: D.C.(10.7%), Ky. (9.8%)

Lowest: S.D.* (2.9%), Ala. (4.1%) 

National: 6.4%

The national Black-white unemployment ratio for 2024 Q4 fell to 1.9-to-1—not significantly different from the standard 2-to-1 ratio that typically characterizes the Black-white unemployment ratio, but notable in that the ratio rarely falls below that 2-to-1 norm. Washington, D.C., once again held the highest Black-white unemployment ratio in the country in the fourth quarter, remaining at 4.5-to-1. Nevada had the lowest Black-white unemployment ratio among states with large enough Black worker populations for precise estimates at 1.3-to-1. Hawaii had a lower ratio at 1.2-to-1 but has a Black worker sample size that is relatively small. There are still no states where Black and white workers are equally likely to be unemployed.

Black-white unemployment ratios 2024 Q4

Highest: D.C. (4.5-to-1)

Lowest: Hawaii* (1.2-to-1), Nev. (1.3-to-1)

National: 1.9-to-1

Fourth-quarter 2024 trends among Hispanic workers

The fourth quarter of 2024 saw three states with Hispanic unemployment rates above 7%: Washington (7.1%), Pennsylvania (7.6%), and Illinois (7.7%). Virginia and Florida had the lowest Hispanic unemployment rates among those states with sufficient sample sizes for precise estimates, at 3.3% and 3.4% respectively. South Dakota once again had the lowest Hispanic unemployment rate among all the states at 2.4%, though the Hispanic worker sample size there is too low for precise estimates. Hispanic unemployment rates were largely stable across the fourth quarter of 2024, as no states saw a change in the Hispanic unemployment rate of more than a percentage point. Nationally the Hispanic unemployment rate fell to 5.2% from 5.3%.

Hispanic unemployment rates 2024 Q4

Highest: Ill. (7.7%); Pa. (7.6%)., Wash. (7.1%)

Lowest: S.D.* (2.4%), Va.(3.3%), Fla. (3.4%)

National: 5.2%

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the nationwide Hispanic-white unemployment ratio remained at 1.6-to-1, with Hispanic workers 60% more likely than their white counterparts to experience unemployment. Washington, D.C., had the highest Hispanic-white unemployment ratio, at 2.8-to-1. Hispanic and white unemployment rates were essentially equal in Idaho, Nevada, and New Jersey, with each at 1.1-to-1. Hawaii once again had employment parity between the Hispanic and white workers surveyed, though the Hispanic worker sample size in Hawaii is relatively small.

Hispanic-white unemployment ratios 2024 Q4

Highest: D.C. (2.8-to-1)

Lowest:  Hawaii* (1-to-1); Idaho, Nev., N.J. (1.1-to-1)

National: 1.6-to-1

Fourth-quarter 2024 trends among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers

New Jersey and Illinois had the highest fourth-quarter AAPI unemployment rates among those states with large enough AAPI worker populations for precise estimation, at 5% and 4.9% respectively. Washington, D.C., also had an AAPI unemployment rate of 5%, though the AAPI worker sample is relatively small. Hawaii had the lowest AAPI unemployment rate among states with sufficient sample sizes, at 2.5%, while South Dakota had the lowest overall AAPI unemployment rate at 1.7% but had a relatively low sample size. Nationally, the AAPI unemployment rate maintained its position at 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Across states, changes in fourth quarter unemployment rates for AAPI workers were relatively minor.

AAPI unemployment rates 2024 Q4

Highest: D.C* (5.0%), N.J. (5.0%), Ill. (4.9%)

Lowest: S.D.* (1.7%), Hawaii (2.5%)

National: 3.7%

Table 1

Change in state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity from 2020 Q1 to 2024 Q4 (percentage points)

 

state All White Black Hispanic AAPI
United States 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.7
Alabama -0.2 -0.1 -0.7 -0.0* 0.2*
Alaska -0.8 -0.8 -1.8* -0.7* -0.2*
Arizona -1.1 -0.9 -2.7* -0.9 -0.8*
Arkansas -0.7 -0.5 -2.0 -0.3* -0.2*
California 0.7 1.1 1.3 0.7 -0.2
Colorado 1.1 0.8 2.2* 1.7 1.3*
Connecticut -0.8 -0.8 -2.0* -0.7 -0.3*
Delaware -0.2 -0.2 -2.3 0.7* 0.3*
District of Columbia -0.1 0.4 -0.9 2.4 0.6*
Florida 0.0 0.0 -1.0 0.2 0.8*
Georgia 0.1 0.2 -0.7 0.2* 0.5*
Hawaii 0.8 1.4 1.0* 1.1* 0.6
Idaho 1.0 1.1 1.2* 0.5 1.2*
Illinois 1.0 0.6 -1.2 3.0 1.9
Indiana 1.0 0.6 2.5 1.9* 1.3*
Iowa 0.4 0.3 -0.3* 0.7* 0.7*
Kansas 0.4 0.2 0.3* 1.1* 0.7*
Kentucky 1.0 -0.5 3.3 1.5* 1.3*
Louisiana -1.1 -0.6 -2.6 -1.4 -0.4*
Maine -0.1 0.1 -0.5* 0.0* 0.2*
Maryland -0.3 -0.5 -0.5 -0.0* 0.1*
Massachusetts 1.0 0.8 1.9 0.9 1.5
Michigan 1.1 0.9 1.4 1.3 1.4*
Minnesota -0.1 -0.4 -0.2* 0.1* 0.3*
Mississippi -2.7 -0.9 -5.8 -3.0* -1.7*
Missouri 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.6* 0.7*
Montana -0.3 -0.4 -0.8* -0.2* 0.1*
Nebraska -0.7 -0.5 -1.4* -0.4* -0.2*
Nevada 0.4 0.3 -1.5 1.3 -0.9
New Hampshire -0.1 -0.1 -0.3* 0.1* 0.2*
New Jersey 0.6 0.5 1.2 -0.3 1.2
New Mexico -1.1 -1.2 -2.1* -1.9 -0.4*
New York 0.3 -0.4 1.3 0.7 1.5
North Carolina -0.2 -0.1 0.3 -2.0 0.3*
North Dakota 0.2 -0.1 0.2* 0.4* 0.5*
Ohio -0.3 -0.3 1.1 -0.9* 0.3*
Oklahoma 0.1 0.6 -0.8* 0.1 0.5*
Oregon 0.4 0.2 0.3* 1.0 0.5*
Pennsylvania -1.2 -1.0 -3.7 0.9 -0.6*
Rhode Island 0.9 1.3 1.1* 0.3 1.2*
South Carolina 1.8 0.8 4.0 2.4* 1.9*
South Dakota -0.6 0.1 -1.2* -0.6* -0.3*
Tennessee 0.0 0.0 -0.4 0.1* 0.4*
Texas 0.1 0.1 0.5 -0.4 1.3
Utah 1.0 0.6 1.3* 1.9 1.2*
Vermont 0.2 0.1 0.1* 0.4* 0.4*
Virginia 0.0 -0.3 1.3 -0.5 0.3*
Washington 0.4 0.3 0.5* 1.7 0.8
West Virginia -1.1 -0.9 -2.2* -1.1* -0.4*
Wisconsin -0.1 -0.2 -0.2* 0.2* 0.2*
Wyoming -1.3 -1.0 -2.4* -0.1 -0.6*

Notes: Unemployment rates for each demographic group are produced from a weighted average of state and national unemployment trends. Those states and demographic groups with typically small sample sizes require a heavier weighting of national-level data to supplement their analysis, and are noted as such with an asterisk (*). See methodological note for more detail. 

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data.

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Table 2

Black-white and Hispanic-white state unemployment rate ratios, 2024 Q4

State Black-white ratio Hispanic-white ratio
United States 1.9 1.6
Alabama 1.5 1.4*
Alaska 2.7* 2.0*
Arizona 1.6* 1.5
Arkansas 1.4 1.3*
California 1.6 1.3
Colorado 1.9* 1.6
Connecticut 1.6* 1.5
Delaware 1.9 1.9*
District of Columbia 4.5 2.8
Florida 2.0 1.3
Georgia 2.0 1.6*
Hawaii 1.2* 1.0*
Idaho 1.6* 1.1
Illinois 1.9 1.9
Indiana 2.0 1.7*
Iowa 1.9* 1.5*
Kansas 1.9* 1.6*
Kentucky 2.8 1.8*
Louisiana 2.2 1.9
Maine 1.6* 1.3*
Maryland 1.9 1.7*
Massachusetts 1.6 1.4
Michigan 1.9 1.4
Minnesota 1.9* 1.5*
Mississippi 1.8 1.6*
Missouri 2.0 1.5*
Montana 1.7* 1.4*
Nebraska 1.9* 1.9*
Nevada 1.3 1.1
New Hampshire 1.7* 1.4*
New Jersey 2.0 1.1
New Mexico 2.3* 1.5
New York 2.5 1.9
North Carolina 2.0 1.2
North Dakota 2.0* 1.7*
Ohio 2.7 1.5*
Oklahoma 1.5* 1.2
Oregon 1.7* 1.4
Pennsylvania 1.7 2.5
Rhode Island 1.6* 1.3
South Carolina 2.4 1.8*
South Dakota 2.0* 1.6*
Tennessee 2.3 1.5*
Texas 2.3 1.6
Utah 1.8* 1.5
Vermont 1.6* 1.3*
Virginia 2.5 1.5
Washington 1.7* 1.7
West Virginia 1.6* 1.3*
Wisconsin 2.5* 1.8*
Wyoming 1.8* 1.6

Notes: Unemployment rates for each demographic group are produced from a weighted average of state and national unemployment trends. Those states and demographic groups with typically small sample sizes require a heavier weighting of national-level data to supplement their analysis, and are noted as such with an asterisk (*). See methodological note for more detail. 

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data.

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Methodology

The unemployment rate estimates in this report are based on the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and the Current Population Survey (CPS) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The overall state unemployment rates are taken directly from the LAUS. CPS 12-month ratios are applied to LAUS data to calculate the rates by race and ethnicity. For each state subgroup, we calculate the unemployment rate using the past 12 months of CPS data. We then find the ratio of this subgroup rate to the state (or national) unemployment rate using the same period of CPS data. This gives us an estimate of how the subgroup compares with the state overall. 

We also leverage national-level data to construct weighted unemployment ratios, utilizing a greater share of national-level data for states with a high amount of volatility in race/ethnicity sample sizes. This allows for more consistent reporting of unemployment rates for Black, Hispanic, and AAPI workers. For more detail on our methodology, see the technical report. 

Appendix

Appendix Table 1

AAPI, Black, and Hispanic unemployment rates for states with updated weights, 2022 Q1–2024 Q4

 

State 2022 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2023 Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2024 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4
AAPI
Alaska 4.2%* 3.4%* 3.0%* 3.3%* 3.4%* 3.6%* 3.9%* 3.7%* 3.6%* 3.6%* 3.8%* 3.8%*
Maryland 3.2%* 2.7%* 2.6%* 2.2%* 1.8%* 1.5%* 1.7%* 1.9%* 2.0%* 2.3%* 2.5%* 2.8%*
Massachusetts 4.3% 3.6% 3.3% 2.9% 2.9% 2.4% 2.4% 3.0% 2.6% 3.2% 3.6% 3.3%
Nevada 5.7% 5.4% 5.0% 5.0% 4.1% 3.3% 4.4% 5.0% 5.7% 5.8% 4.7% 4.3%
Black
Kentucky 6.8% 6.7% 6.6% 6.8% 7.0% 7.6% 8.1% 8.6% 9.2% 9.9% 9.8% 9.8%
Massachusetts 5.2% 4.8% 4.5% 4.5% 4.6% 5.0% 5.6% 5.2% 4.6% 4.6% 5.1% 6.1%
Missouri 5.1% 4.5% 4.4% 4.3% 4.9% 4.8% 5.5% 5.9% 5.6% 6.4% 7.0% 6.2%
North Dakota 3.5%* 3.3%* 3.3%* 3.4%* 3.2%* 3.0%* 2.9%* 3.0%* 3.1%* 3.2%* 3.5%* 3.8%*
Hispanic
Connecticut 6.2% 5.7% 5.3% 4.8% 4.9% 4.8% 5.1% 5.9% 5.6% 4.8% 4.3% 3.9%
Hawaii 3.9%* 4.0%* 4.0%* 3.8%* 3.8%* 3.7%* 3.9%* 4.0%* 3.9%* 3.8%* 3.6%* 3.8%*
Iowa 3.2%* 3.1%* 3.5%* 3.6%* 3.5%* 3.5%* 3.8%* 3.9%* 3.7%* 3.5%* 3.6%* 3.9%*
Maryland 3.9%* 3.5%* 3.5%* 3.1%* 2.7%* 2.3%* 2.6%* 2.8%* 3.0%* 3.4%* 3.6%* 3.9%*
Oregon 5.3% 5.4% 6.2% 6.1% 5.0% 4.8% 4.8% 5.0% 5.2% 4.9% 5.1% 5.1%

Notes: Unemployment rates for each demographic group are produced from a weighted average of state and national unemployment trends. Those states and demographic groups with typically small sample sizes require a heavier weighting of national-level data to supplement their analysis and are noted as such with an asterisk (*). See methodological note for more detail. 

Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) data and Current Population Survey (CPS) data.

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Notes

1. Marokey Sawo and Daniel Perez, Detailing the New Methodology Behind EPI’s Quarterly State Unemployment Rates by Race and Ethnicity Series, Economic Policy Institute, December 2022.

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