State Unemployment by Race and Ethnicity

Labor markets lost strength in most states, and Black workers faced tougher employment prospects

Key numbers • 2025 Summary

M.D. Highest Black-white unemployment ratio 2.8-to-1
P.A. Highest Hispanic-white unemployment ratio 2.6-to-1
U.S. National Black-white unemployment ratio 2-to-1
U.S. National Hispanic-white unemployment ratio 1.5-to-1

2025 annual summary • Updated March 2026

Most states saw weakening labor markets through 2025, though Black workers faced tougher employment prospects than most 

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 average unemployment rates across groups for the entire year of 2025, not the fourth quarter of 2025 as typical EPI reports have covered in the past.

Due to the 2025 U.S. federal government shutdown, October 2025 Current Population Survey data were not collected and are not available. In lieu of fourth-quarter estimates, this report outlines state unemployment averages for 2025. The 2025 annual estimates are calculated using an 11-month average of available months. 2024 annual estimates are calculated using a 12-month average.

Methodological note

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

2025 state unemployment rates, trends, and ratios 

Federal job cuts and tariff uncertainty created an environment of political and economic instability, weakening labor markets across states in 2025; rising unemployment rates hit the Black workforce hardest.

The labor market was unambiguously weaker through the first year of Trump’s second term, compared with the last year of Biden’s presidency. The average unemployment rate for the nation was 4.3% for the 11 months of available 2025 data, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from 2024. Twenty-two states had average unemployment rates of 4% or higher.

Washington, D.C., saw the year’s highest unemployment rate nationwide at 5.9%, while South Dakota had the lowest rate at 1.9%. Most states (35 states and Washington, D.C.) saw at least marginal increases in their unemployment rates, though no state saw an overall change of more than one percentage point between 2024 and 2025.

Overall unemployment rates 2025

Highest: D.C. (5.9%)

Lowest: S.D. (1.9%)

National: 4.3%

Sweeping federal job cuts, erratic tariff policies, and a retrenchment from diversity, equity, and inclusion are hallmarks of the 2025 labor market. The longest government shutdown ever led to reductions in data availability, such that key labor market indicators were either delayed or never recorded. The Trump administration’s attacks on federal workers and DEI reveal its lack of concern for closing labor market disparities; it is not surprising that the aggregate increase in unemployment masks large differences in impact across racial groups. Black workers saw the worst of the labor market slowdown through 2025, with college-educated Black women particularly impacted by job losses.

Interactive Map

State unemployment rates, by race/ethnicity and overall, 2024 and 2025

State All-2025 White-2025 Black-2025 Hispanic-2025 AAPI-2025 All-2024 White-2024 Black-2024 Hispanic-2024 AAPI-2024
United States 4.3% 3.4% 6.8% 5.1% 3.7% 4.0% 3.2% 6.2% 5.1% 3.6%
Alabama 3.1% 2.2% 5.1% 3.7%* 2.7%* 3.1% 2.7% 4.0% 3.8%* 2.7%*
Alaska 4.7% 2.9% 7.6%* 5.2%* 3.7%* 4.6% 2.6% 7.1%* 5.2%* 3.8%*
Arizona 4.1% 3.0% 5.7%* 5.3% 3.8%* 3.6% 2.9% 4.7%* 4.3% 3.3%*
Arkansas 3.8% 2.9% 6.9% 4.6%* 3.3%* 3.5% 3.2% 4.5% 4.2%* 3.1%*
California 5.4% 5.0% 9.1% 6.1% 3.6% 5.3% 4.8% 7.8% 6.1% 3.8%
Colorado 4.5% 3.5% 7.2%* 6.6% 3.8%* 4.2% 3.6% 6.9%* 5.7% 3.8%*
Connecticut 3.7% 3.0% 6.2%* 4.8% 3.2%* 3.2% 2.8% 4.5%* 4.1% 2.8%*
Delaware 4.2% 2.9% 6.6% 5.2%* 3.6%* 3.7% 2.6% 5.1% 4.9%* 3.3%*
Florida 3.8% 3.7% 5.9% 3.0% 3.0%* 3.4% 2.7% 5.3% 3.4% 3.2%*
Georgia 3.5% 2.3% 5.5% 3.7%* 3.0%* 3.5% 2.5% 5.0% 4.0%* 3.1%*
Hawaii 2.7% 2.8% 4.3%* 3.4%* 2.3% 2.9% 3.7% 4.5%* 3.9%* 2.6%
Idaho 3.7% 3.5% 5.9%* 4.3% 3.2%* 3.7% 3.6% 5.6%* 4.0% 3.3%*
Illinois 4.6% 3.6% 8.2% 5.3% 4.1% 5.0% 3.8% 7.3% 7.3% 4.6%
Indiana 3.8% 3.2% 6.2% 4.8%* 3.3%* 4.2% 3.4% 6.9% 5.7%* 3.8%*
Iowa 3.5% 3.3% 5.9%* 4.2%* 3.1%* 3.0% 2.5% 4.7%* 3.8%* 2.7%*
Kansas 3.8% 3.0% 6.5%* 4.7%* 3.3%* 3.6% 3.0% 5.7%* 4.8%* 3.2%*
Kentucky 4.9% 4.4% 8.8% 5.9%* 4.3%* 5.1% 3.4% 9.7% 6.4%* 4.5%*
Louisiana 4.4% 3.1% 6.1% 6.0% 3.8%* 4.3% 2.9% 6.5% 5.6% 3.9%*
Maine 3.3% 3.1% 5.4%* 4.0%* 2.9%* 3.1% 3.0% 4.8%* 3.9%* 2.8%*
Maryland 3.4% 2.0% 5.8% 3.9%* 3.0%* 3.0% 2.2% 4.2% 3.9%* 2.7%*
Massachusetts 4.6% 3.9% 6.8% 7.6% 4.4% 4.0% 3.7% 6.1% 5.1% 3.3%
Michigan 5.3% 4.0% 10.7% 7.5% 4.6%* 4.7% 4.1% 7.9% 5.6% 4.2%*
Minnesota 3.4% 2.7% 5.9%* 4.1%* 3.0%* 3.0% 2.5% 4.8%* 3.8%* 2.7%*
Mississippi 3.9% 2.9% 5.4% 4.6%* 3.3%* 3.1% 2.4% 4.3% 3.9%* 2.8%*
Missouri 3.9% 3.1% 7.5% 4.7%* 3.4%* 3.6% 3.0% 6.0% 4.6%* 3.3%*
Montana 2.9% 2.6% 4.7%* 3.5%* 2.5%* 3.0% 2.6% 4.6%* 3.7%* 2.7%*
Nebraska 3.0% 2.5% 4.8%* 4.1%* 2.6%* 2.8% 2.2% 4.3%* 4.2%* 2.5%*
Nevada 5.5% 4.2% 10.4% 6.0% 3.8% 5.6% 5.2% 6.8% 5.8% 4.2%
New Hampshire 3.0% 2.8% 4.9%* 3.6%* 2.6%* 2.6% 2.4% 3.9%* 3.2%* 2.3%*
New Jersey 4.9% 4.0% 6.8% 6.0% 4.5% 4.5% 3.7% 7.5% 4.3% 4.9%
New Mexico 4.2% 3.0% 6.0%* 4.9% 3.7%* 4.2% 2.7% 6.2%* 4.0% 3.7%*
New York 4.2% 3.0% 7.6% 5.8% 3.1% 4.3% 3.1% 7.7% 5.9% 3.3%
North Carolina 3.7% 2.9% 6.0% 3.4% 3.2%* 3.6% 2.9% 5.9% 3.5% 3.2%*
North Dakota 2.6% 2.0% 4.1%* 3.1%* 2.2%* 2.4% 1.8% 3.7%* 3.0%* 2.2%*
Ohio 4.8% 4.1% 8.1% 5.4%* 4.1%* 4.3% 3.4% 9.1% 5.1%* 3.8%*
Oklahoma 3.3% 2.9% 5.4%* 3.4% 2.8%* 3.3% 3.2% 4.6%* 3.9% 3.0%*
Oregon 4.9% 4.3% 7.8%* 6.2% 4.4%* 4.2% 3.7% 6.4%* 5.2% 3.8%*
Pennsylvania 4.0% 3.1% 7.0% 8.2% 3.4%* 3.6% 3.1% 5.4% 7.9% 3.3%*
Rhode Island 4.7% 3.8% 7.5%* 6.8% 4.0%* 4.3% 4.1% 6.7%* 5.5% 3.9%*
South Carolina 4.3% 2.9% 7.2% 5.1%* 3.7%* 4.2% 2.9% 7.0% 5.2%* 3.7%*
South Dakota 1.9% 1.4% 3.1%* 2.3%* 1.7%* 1.8% 1.4% 2.8%* 2.3%* 1.6%*
Tennessee 3.6% 3.0% 6.2% 4.4%* 3.1%* 3.4% 2.7% 6.1% 4.1%* 3.1%*
Texas 4.1% 3.2% 6.3% 4.4% 3.4% 4.1% 2.9% 6.5% 4.5% 4.0%
Utah 3.3% 3.0% 5.3%* 4.2% 2.8%* 3.2% 2.8% 4.9%* 4.2% 2.9%*
Vermont 2.6% 2.3% 4.1%* 3.1%* 2.2%* 2.3% 2.2% 3.5%* 2.9%* 2.1%*
Virginia 3.4% 2.9% 4.5% 3.7% 3.2%* 2.8% 2.1% 5.1% 3.2% 2.6%*
Washington 4.5% 4.2% 6.9%* 5.8% 3.6% 4.5% 4.1% 6.9%* 6.9% 3.7%
Washington D.C. 5.9% 3.7% 9.5% 6.9% 5.1%* 5.2% 2.2% 10.1% 6.3% 4.7%*
West Virginia 3.9% 3.8% 6.7%* 4.7%* 3.4%* 4.1% 4.1% 6.4%* 5.1%* 3.7%*
Wisconsin 3.2% 2.3% 6.8%* 4.1%* 2.7%* 3.0% 2.3% 5.9%* 4.2%* 2.7%*
Wyoming 3.4% 3.2% 5.4%* 3.8% 2.9%* 3.2% 2.8% 5.0%* 4.4% 2.9%*
Economic Policy Institute

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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2025 annual trends among white workers 

California had the highest average unemployment rate for white workers in 2025, at 5%; every other state had a white unemployment rate below 5%. Eight states had average white unemployment rates of 4% or above. South Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate for white workers at 1.9%. Two states (Florida and Kentucky) and Washington, D.C., saw significant increases in their average white unemployment rates compared with 2024 (at or greater than one percentage point), with D.C.’s 1.5 percentage point increase owed largely to federal workforce reductions. Only one state (Nevada) saw a significant reduction in its white unemployment rate between 2024 and 2025, a reduction of 1%. The national average unemployment rate for white workers in 2025 was 3.4%, up just 0.2 percentage points from 2024.

White unemployment rates 2025 

Highest: Calif. (5.0%)

Lowest: S.D. (1.4%)

National: 3.4%

2025 annual trends among Black workers 

In stark contrast to state trends for white workers, every state, save South Dakota, had an average Black unemployment rate above 4% for 2025. South Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate for Black workers, at 3.1%, though the sample size for the Black workforce in South Dakota is small. Virginia had the lowest average Black unemployment rate among states with a large enough Black workforce to allow for precise estimation, at 4.1% for 2025. Michigan and Nevada had the highest average Black unemployment rates for 2025, at 10.7% and 10.4% respectively. Six states and Washington, D.C., had average Black unemployment rates above 8%.

Sixteen states saw significant increases (at or greater than one percentage point) in their average Black unemployment rates from 2024 to 2025. Nevada, Michigan, and Arkansas (in descending order) saw the highest increases in Black unemployment rates of well over 2 percentage points. Only one state (Ohio) saw a significant reduction in its Black unemployment rate. Nationwide, the average Black unemployment rate rose 0.6 percentage points to 6.8% from 2024 to 2025.

Black unemployment rates 2025

Highest: Mich. (10.7%), Nev. (9.4%)

Lowest: S.D.* (3.1%); Va. (4.5%) 

National: 6.8%

The average national Black-white unemployment ratio across the 11 months for which data were available in 2025 was 2-to-1; meaning that, in line with the historical trend, Black workers were again twice as likely to face unemployment as their white counterparts nationwide. States varied in their Black-white unemployment ratios for the year: Wisconsin, Maryland, and Michigan had the highest Black-white unemployment ratios at 2.9, 2.8, and 2.7-to-1 respectively, though Wisconsin has a small Black worker sample size. Wisconsin saw no change in white unemployment, while Black unemployment rose .9 percentage points; Maryland saw a small reduction in white unemployment of 0.2 percentage points and an increase in Black unemployment of 1.6 percentage points; Michigan saw a small reduction in white unemployment, but a relatively large increase in Black unemployment of 2.8 percentage points.

Hawaii had the lowest Black-white unemployment ratio for 2025 at 1.5-to-1, though its Black worker sample size was small; among those states with large enough sample sizes for precise estimates, Florida and Virginia had the lowest ratios at 1.6-to-1 (Washington state shared this ratio but also has a small Black worker sample size). Florida saw a larger increase in white unemployment (1 percentage point) than for Black unemployment (an increase of 0.6 percentage points); in Virginia, white unemployment rose by 0.8 percentage points, while Black unemployment fell 0.6 percentage points. Throughout the year there were no states where Black and white workers were equally likely to face unemployment on average.

Black-white unemployment ratios 2025 

Highest: Wis.* (2.9-to-1), Md. (2.8-to-1), Mich. (2.7-to-1)

Lowest: Hawaii* (1.5-to-1), Fla., Va., Wash.* (1.6-to-1)

National: 2-to-1

2025 annual trends among Hispanic workers

The majority of states (36 of 50) and Washington, D.C., had average Hispanic unemployment rates at or above 4% for the 11-months of available data for 2025. Pennsylvania had the highest average Hispanic unemployment rate for 2025, at 8.2%. Florida had the lowest average Hispanic unemployment rate among states with a sufficient Hispanic worker population for precise estimates, at 3%, while South Dakota had the lowest rate across all states (including those with low Hispanic worker populations) at 2.3% for the year.

Four states (Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Rhode Island) saw an increase in their average Hispanic unemployment rate of over one percentage point, while only Illinois and Washington state saw reductions of over one point. Nationwide, the Hispanic unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1% for both 2024 and 2025.

Hispanic unemployment rates 2025 

Highest: Pa. (8.2%)

Lowest: S.D.* (2.3%), Fla. (3.0%)

National: 5.1%

In the 2025 the nationwide Hispanic-white unemployment ratio was 1.5-to-1, meaning that Hispanic workers were 50% more likely to face unemployment than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Pennsylvania was the only state in the country to have an average Hispanic-white unemployment ratio for 2025 greater than 2-to-1, at 2.6-to-1 for the year. Pennsylvania saw only a slight increase in Hispanic unemployment of 0.3 percentage points, while white unemployment remained unchanged. Florida was the only state to have an average Hispanic-white unemployment ratio less than 1—meaning Hispanic workers were less likely to face unemployment there than white workers—at 0.8-to-1. While white unemployment in Florida rose by 1 percentage point, Hispanic unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points.

Hispanic-white unemployment ratios 2025 

Highest: Pa. (2.6-to-1)

Lowest:  Fla. (0.8-to-1)

National: 1.5-to-1

2025 annual trends among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers

Eight states and Washington, D.C., had average AAPI unemployment rates of 4% or higher in 2025—though only Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey had AAPI worker sample sizes large enough for precise estimation. The AAPI unemployment rate was highest in Washington, D.C, at 5.1%, though the district has a relatively small AAPI workforce. New Jersey had the highest average AAPI unemployment rate for 2025 among the precisely estimable states, at 4.5%. Hawaii had the lowest average AAPI unemployment rate among states with sufficient AAPI sample sizes, at 2.3% for the year, while South Dakota maintained the lowest rate across all states at 1.7%. Only one state, Massachusetts, saw a change in its average AAPI unemployment rate of more than one percentage point between 2024 and 2025, an increase of 1.1 percentage points. The national unemployment rate for AAPI workers only increased slightly from 2024 to 2025, by 0.1 percentage points to 3.7%.

AAPI unemployment rates 2025 

Highest: D.C* (5.1%), Mich.* (4.6%), N.J. (4.5%)

Lowest: S.D.* (1.7%), Hawaii (2.3%)

National: 3.7%

Table 1

Change in state unemployment rates by race and ethnicity from 2024 to 2025 (percentage points)

State All White Black Hispanic AAPI
United States 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.0 0.1
Alabama 0.0 -0.5 1.1 -0.1* 0.0*
Alaska 0.1 0.3 0.5* 0.0* -0.1*
Arizona 0.5 0.1 1.0* 1.0 0.5*
Arkansas 0.3 -0.3 2.4 0.4* 0.2*
California 0.1 0.2 1.3 0.0 -0.2
Colorado 0.3 -0.1 0.3* 0.9 0.0*
Connecticut 0.5 0.2 1.7* 0.7 0.4*
Delaware 0.5 0.3 1.5 0.3* 0.3*
Florida 0.4 1.0 0.6 -0.4 -0.2*
Georgia 0.0 -0.2 0.5 -0.3* -0.1*
Hawaii -0.2 -0.9 -0.2* -0.5* -0.3
Idaho 0.0 -0.1 0.3* 0.3 -0.1*
Illinois -0.4 -0.2 0.9 -2.0 -0.5
Indiana -0.4 -0.2 -0.7 -0.9* -0.5*
Iowa 0.5 0.8 1.2* 0.4* 0.4*
Kansas 0.2 0.0 0.8* -0.1* 0.1*
Kentucky -0.2 1.0 -0.9 -0.5* -0.2*
Louisiana 0.1 0.2 -0.4 0.4 -0.1*
Maine 0.2 0.1 0.6* 0.1* 0.1*
Maryland 0.4 -0.2 1.6 0.0* 0.3*
Massachusetts 0.6 0.2 0.7 2.5 1.1
Michigan 0.6 -0.1 2.8 1.9 0.4*
Minnesota 0.4 0.2 1.1* 0.3* 0.3*
Mississippi 0.8 0.5 1.1 0.7* 0.5*
Missouri 0.3 0.1 1.5 0.1* 0.1*
Montana -0.1 0.0 0.1* -0.2* -0.2*
Nebraska 0.2 0.3 0.5* -0.1* 0.1*
Nevada -0.1 -1.0 3.6 0.2 -0.4
New Hampshire 0.4 0.4 1.0* 0.4* 0.3*
New Jersey 0.4 0.3 -0.7 1.7 -0.4
New Mexico 0.0 0.3 -0.2* 0.9 0.0*
New York -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 -0.2
North Carolina 0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0*
North Dakota 0.2 0.2 0.4* 0.1* 0.0*
Ohio 0.5 0.7 -1.0 0.3* 0.3*
Oklahoma 0.0 -0.3 0.8* -0.5 -0.2*
Oregon 0.7 0.6 1.4* 1.0 0.6*
Pennsylvania 0.4 0.0 1.6 0.3 0.1*
Rhode Island 0.4 -0.3 0.8* 1.3 0.1*
South Carolina 0.1 0.0 0.2 -0.1* 0.0*
South Dakota 0.1 0.0 0.3* 0.0* 0.1*
Tennessee 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.3* 0.0*
Texas 0.0 0.3 -0.2 -0.1 -0.6
Utah 0.1 0.2 0.4* 0.0 -0.1*
Vermont 0.3 0.1 0.6* 0.2* 0.1*
Virginia 0.6 0.8 -0.6 0.5 0.6*
Washington 0.0 0.1 0.0* -1.1 -0.1
Washington D.C. 0.7 1.5 -0.6 0.6 0.4*
West Virginia -0.2 -0.3 0.3* -0.4* -0.3*
Wisconsin 0.2 0.0 0.9* -0.1* 0.0*
Wyoming 0.2 0.4 0.4* -0.6 0.0*
Economic Policy Institute

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, 2025

State Black-white ratio Hispanic-white ratio
United States 2.0 1.5
Alabama 2.3 1.7*
Alaska 2.6* 1.8*
Arizona 1.9* 1.7
Arkansas 2.4 1.6*
California 1.8 1.2
Colorado 2.0* 1.9
Connecticut 2.1* 1.6
Delaware 2.3 1.8*
District of Columbia 2.6 1.9
Florida 1.6 0.8
Georgia 2.4 1.6*
Hawaii 1.5* 1.2*
Idaho 1.7* 1.2
Illinois 2.3 1.4
Indiana 1.9 1.5*
Iowa 1.8* 1.3*
Kansas 2.2* 1.6*
Kentucky 2.0 1.4*
Louisiana 2.0 1.9
Maine 1.7* 1.3*
Maryland 2.8 1.9*
Massachusetts 1.7 1.9
Michigan 2.7 1.9
Minnesota 2.2* 1.5*
Mississippi 1.8 1.6*
Missouri 2.4 1.5*
Montana 1.8* 1.3*
Nebraska 1.9* 1.6*
Nevada 2.5 1.5
New Hampshire 1.8* 1.3*
New Jersey 1.7 1.5
New Mexico 2.0* 1.6
New York 2.5 1.9
North Carolina 2.1 1.2
North Dakota 2.0* 1.5*
Ohio 2.0 1.3*
Oklahoma 1.9* 1.2
Oregon 1.8* 1.4
Pennsylvania 2.2 2.6
Rhode Island 1.9* 1.8
South Carolina 2.5 1.8*
South Dakota 2.2* 1.7*
Tennessee 2.1 1.4*
Texas 2.0 1.4
Utah 1.8* 1.4
Vermont 1.8* 1.3*
Virginia 1.6 1.3
Washington 1.6* 1.4
West Virginia 1.8* 1.2*
Wisconsin 2.9* 1.8*
Wyoming 1.7* 1.2
Economic Policy Institute

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. 

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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