Unemployment rates are consistently lower across the South than in other regions, even during the pandemic: Unemployment rates by region, 2019–2021
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 3.7% | 9.2% | 6.4% |
| West | 3.9% | 9.1% | 6.2% |
| Midwest | 3.6% | 7.5% | 4.6% |
| South | 3.5% | 7.2% | 4.8% |
Source: EPI analysis of CPS microdata.