Labor force participation in the South is the lowest of any region: Labor force participation rates by region, 1979–2022
| South | Midwest | Northeast | West | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 62.7% | 65.5% | 62.2% | 65.7% |
| 1980 | 62.8% | 65.4% | 62.2% | 65.6% |
| 1981 | 63.2% | 65.4% | 62.2% | 65.8% |
| 1982 | 63.3% | 65.3% | 62.1% | 66.3% |
| 1983 | 63.6% | 65.3% | 62.1% | 66.3% |
| 1984 | 64.2% | 65.4% | 62.6% | 66.2% |
| 1985 | 64.4% | 65.9% | 63.1% | 66.3% |
| 1986 | 64.8% | 66.2% | 63.6% | 66.9% |
| 1987 | 65.2% | 66.6% | 63.9% | 67.1% |
| 1988 | 65.4% | 67.1% | 64.2% | 67.3% |
| 1989 | 65.6% | 67.9% | 65.0% | 67.8% |
| 1990 | 65.7% | 67.8% | 65.3% | 67.6% |
| 1991 | 65.5% | 67.6% | 65.0% | 66.9% |
| 1992 | 65.8% | 68.3% | 64.9% | 67.2% |
| 1993 | 65.6% | 68.5% | 64.6% | 66.8% |
| 1994 | 66.1% | 69.1% | 64.2% | 67.3% |
| 1995 | 66.0% | 69.5% | 64.1% | 67.2% |
| 1996 | 66.0% | 69.7% | 64.7% | 67.2% |
| 1997 | 66.1% | 69.8% | 65.7% | 67.6% |
| 1998 | 66.0% | 69.6% | 65.3% | 67.8% |
| 1999 | 65.9% | 69.7% | 65.4% | 67.6% |
| 2000 | 65.9% | 69.7% | 65.2% | 67.9% |
| 2001 | 65.6% | 69.6% | 65.0% | 67.6% |
| 2002 | 65.2% | 68.8% | 65.6% | 67.4% |
| 2003 | 65.1% | 68.7% | 64.9% | 66.8% |
| 2004 | 64.7% | 68.4% | 64.9% | 66.6% |
| 2005 | 65.0% | 68.2% | 65.0% | 66.5% |
| 2006 | 65.2% | 68.4% | 65.2% | 66.4% |
| 2007 | 64.9% | 68.2% | 65.0% | 66.6% |
| 2008 | 64.7% | 67.9% | 65.4% | 66.7% |
| 2009 | 63.9% | 67.3% | 65.2% | 66.0% |
| 2010 | 63.4% | 66.5% | 64.5% | 65.2% |
| 2011 | 63.1% | 65.9% | 63.9% | 64.2% |
| 2012 | 62.8% | 65.3% | 63.9% | 63.5% |
| 2013 | 62.1% | 65.2% | 63.5% | 63.1% |
| 2014 | 61.7% | 65.1% | 62.9% | 62.8% |
| 2015 | 61.2% | 65.0% | 63.1% | 62.6% |
| 2016 | 61.2% | 65.4% | 63.0% | 62.8% |
| 2017 | 61.5% | 65.0% | 63.0% | 63.0% |
| 2018 | 61.6% | 64.9% | 63.0% | 63.0% |
| 2019 | 61.8% | 65.2% | 63.3% | 63.2% |
| 2020 | 60.3% | 63.9% | 62.1% | 61.9% |
| 2021 | 60.4% | 63.4% | 61.6% | 62.2% |
| 2022 | 61.0% | 63.9% | 62.3% | 62.8% |
Source: Economic Policy Institute analysis of Current Population Survey microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau.