States Where the Unemployment Rate Is at an All-Time Low

Check out which states are at a historical low for unemployment.

By Alexandria Bova December 17, 2019 Understanding the Economy

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Boston, Massachusetts, USA - May 1, 2017: Evening view of the Piers Park brick walkway located in the East Boston neighborhood.

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As of November 2019, the U.S. unemployment rate was at 3.5%, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The last time it was this low was almost half a century ago in December 1969. Goldman Sachs predicts the unemployment rate will drop even lower to 3.25% nationwide by the end of 2020. The U.S. unemployment rate can serve as a convenient barometer for the current strength of the economy. But what does this mean for potential job opportunities?

This is a good time to be on the job hunt, as a healthy unemployment rate generally indicates employers will raise wages and compete to hire new workers. According to The New York Times, employers added 266,000 jobs in November. The BLS reports unemployment data every month, which has shown a steady decrease within the past decade. Nine states are currently sitting at record-low unemployment rates.

To find out which states had the lowest unemployment rates across the country, GOBankingRates analyzed October 2019 seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates sourced from the BLS and compiled each state’s October 2009 unemployment rate. GOBankingRates also provided the historic low unemployment rate and current median household income in each state. With unemployment rates at an all-time low, these are the states where job seekers should consider relocating.

Last updated: Dec. 17, 2019

Church Street market at night with people walking during springtime in Burlington, Vermont.

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1. Vermont

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 6.4%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.2 percentage points
Historical low date: August 2019
Historical low rate: 2.1%
Median household income in 2018: $60,782

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Fargo, North Dakota, USA - June 12, 2017: Daytime view of the Fargo Theatre along Broadway N in the Downtown Historic District.

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2. North Dakota

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.5%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 4%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 1.5 percentage points
Historical low date: June 2019
Historical low rate: 2.3%
Median household income in 2018: $63,837

A chair lift brings skiers to top of ski slopes of Deer Valley Ski Resort, near Park City and The Canyons.

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3. Utah

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.5%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.7%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 5.2 percentage points
Historical low date: April 2007
Historical low rate: 2.4%
Median household income in 2018: $71,414

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA - February 2, 2013: People walking in the Old Town pedestrian zone of Fort Collins, Colorado at night.

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4. Colorado

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 5.2 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 2.6%
Median household income in 2018: $71,953

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

DES MOINES, IOWA - JULY 11, 2018: Des Moines, Iowa Skyline from the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

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5. Iowa

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 6.5%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3.9 percentage points
Historical low date: June 2019
Historical low rate: 2.4%
Median household income in 2018: $59,955

This is a panorama view of Claremont, New Hampshire, New England.

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6. New Hampshire

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 6.4%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3.8 percentage points
Historical low date: March 1988
Historical low rate: 2.2%
Median household income in 2018: $74,991

Downtown Greenville, SC South Carolina Skyline Cityscape at Sunrise.

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7. South Carolina

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 11.6%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 9 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 2.6%
Median household income in 2018: $52,306

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

Market Square and City Hall at night, in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.

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8. Virginia

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.1%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.5 percentage points
Historical low date: November 2000
Historical low rate: 2.1%
Median household income in 2018: $72,577

Maui, Hawaii, USA - March 15, 2012: People paddle outrigger canoes off the beach at sunrise.

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9. Hawaii

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.7%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.3%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.6 percentage points
Historical low date: November 2017
Historical low rate: 2.2%
Median household income in 2018: $80,212

Huntsville, Alabama, USA park and downtown cityscape at twilight.

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10. Alabama

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.8%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 11.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 9 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 2.8%
Median household income in 2018: $49,861

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

Portland, Maine, USA skyline from above at twilight in winter.

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11. Maine

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.8%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.2%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 5.4 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 2.8%
Median household income in 2018: $55,602

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

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12. Idaho

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.9%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 9.3%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6.4 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2018
Historical low rate: 2.7%
Median household income in 2018: $55,583

Boston, Massachusetts, USA downtown cityscape.

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13. Massachusetts

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 2.9%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.7%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 5.8 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2000
Historical low rate: 2.6%
Median household income in 2018: $79,835

Rapid City, South Dakota, USA - May 3, 2019: Daytime view of Main Street Square in the Heart of Downtown Rapid City.

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14. South Dakota

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 5%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 2 percentage points
Historical low date: July 2000
Historical low rate: 2.4%
Median household income in 2018: $56,274

Wichita, Kansas, USA - Augusst 31, 2018: The confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas River at the Keeper of the Plains near downtown Wichita at dawn.

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15. Kansas

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.1%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.2%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.1 percentage points
Historical low date: August 1978
Historical low rate: 2.9%
Median household income in 2018: $58,218

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16. Missouri

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.1%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 9.7%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6.6 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2018
Historical low rate: 3%
Median household income in 2018: $54,478

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17. Nebraska

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.1%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 4.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 1.7 percentage points
Historical low date: October 1990
Historical low rate: 2.3%
Median household income in 2018: $59,566

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18. Florida

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 11%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 7.8 percentage points
Historical low date: March 2006
Historical low rate: 3.1%
Median household income in 2018: $55,462

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - April 10, 2015: People walk across the White River Trail bridge in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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19. Indiana

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.6%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 7.4 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2000
Historical low rate: 2.9%
Median household income in 2018: $55,746

St Paul downtown skyline at sunset during christmas.

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20. Minnesota

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.6 percentage points
Historical low date: February 1999
Historical low rate: 2.5%
Median household income in 2018: $70,315

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA - September 22, 2013: People walking the Atlantic City Boardwalk in NJ on September 22, 2013.

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21. New Jersey

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 9.7%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6.5 percentage points
Historical low date: September 2019
Historical low rate: 3.1%
Median household income in 2018: $81,740

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA cityscape in Bricktown at dusk.

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22. Oklahoma

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.3%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 6.9%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3.6 percentage points
Historical low date: December 2000
Historical low rate: 2.9%
Median household income in 2018: $51,924

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA - Historic Old World Third Street, one of the hubs of Milwaukee’s nightlife.

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23. Wisconsin

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.3%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 9.1%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 5.8 percentage points
Historical low date: May 2019
Historical low rate: 2.8%
Median household income in 2018: $60,773

Atlanta, Georgia, USA – July 26, 2015: Sunset panoramic aerial view of Atlanta skyline, with the Westin Peachtree Plaza skyscraper at its center, with a mobile sculpture of the SkyLounge rooftop terra - Image.

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24. Georgia

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.4%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.4%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 7 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 3.4%
Median household income in 2018: $58,756

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

View of Missoula from Mount Sentinel, in Missoula, Montana.

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25. Montana

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.4%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 6.9%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3.5 percentage points
Historical low date: February 2007
Historical low rate: 2.9%
Median household income in 2018: $55,328

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26. Tennessee

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.4%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.6%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 7.2 percentage points
Historical low date: April 2019
Historical low rate: 3.2%
Median household income in 2018: $52,375

San Antonio, Texas, USA cityscape at the River Walk.

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27. Texas

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.4%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.3%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.9 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 3.4%
Median household income in 2018: $60,629

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

Little Rock, Arkansas, USA - December 18th 2010: River Rail Trolley in the River Market District transports locals and tourists between Little Rock and North Little Rock.

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28. Arkansas

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.5%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.5 percentage points
Historical low date: August 2019
Historical low rate: 3.4%
Median household income in 2018: $47,062

Cars wait at a stop light next to Center Church in downtown Hartford Connecticut on a sunny day.

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29. Connecticut

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.5%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.9 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2000
Historical low rate: 2.2%
Median household income in 2018: $76,348

Annapolis, Maryland - State, Harbor, Color Image, Commercial Dock.

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30. Maryland

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.4%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3.8 percentage points
Historical low date: January 2008
Historical low rate: 3.3%
Median household income in 2018: $83,242

Providence is the capital and most populous city in Rhode Island.

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31. Rhode Island

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.6%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 11.1%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 7.5 percentage points
Historical low date: July 1988
Historical low rate: 3%
Median household income in 2018: $64,340

View of buildings along 11th Street at sunset in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, from the City Center Parking Garage.

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32. Delaware

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.7%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.6%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.9 percentage points
Historical low date: June 1988
Historical low rate: 3%
Median household income in 2018: $64,805

Casper, Wyoming, USA - April 30, 2019: Evening view of 2nd Street in the heart of historic downtown Casper.

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33. Wyoming

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.8%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3.2 percentage points
Historical low date: May 1979
Historical low rate: 2.5%
Median household income in 2018: $61,584

Los Angeles, California, USA - July 7th, 2016: Visitors at one of LA's landmark the "Urban Light" by Chris Burden which is a well-known installation in at LACMA.

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34. California

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.9%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 11.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 7.9 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 3.9%
Median household income in 2018: $75,277

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

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35. Illinois

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 3.9%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 11%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 7.1 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 3.9%
Median household income in 2018: $65,030

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

Washington square park aerial view New York City.

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36. New York

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.8 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2018
Historical low rate: 3.8%
Median household income in 2018: $67,844

Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Skyline Aerial.

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37. North Carolina

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.9%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6.9 percentage points
Historical low date: April 1999
Historical low rate: 3%
Median household income in 2018: $53,855

Downtown Lansing skyline buildings with Grand River and building reflections.

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38. Michigan

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.1%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 14.1%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 10 percentage points
Historical low date: March 2000
Historical low rate: 3.2%
Median household income in 2018: $56,697

Aerial view of Las Vegas strip at sunrise on July 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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39. Nevada

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.1%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 12.2%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 8.1 percentage points
Historical low date: February 1999
Historical low rate: 3.8%
Median household income in 2018: $58,646

Eugene, Oregon, USA downtown cityscape at dusk.

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40. Oregon

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.1%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 11%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6.9 percentage points
Historical low date: August 2019
Historical low rate: 4%
Median household income in 2018: $63,426

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 18, 2017: Findlay Market is a trendy farmer's marketplace in the historic Over the Rhine district in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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41. Ohio

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6.6 percentage points
Historical low date: February 2001
Historical low rate: 3.7%
Median household income in 2018: $56,111

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42. Pennsylvania

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.4%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.2 percentage points
Historical low date: June 2019
Historical low rate: 3.8%
Median household income in 2018: $60,905

The old City Hall in downtown Louisville, Kentucky USA.

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43. Kentucky

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.3%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.6%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6.3 percentage points
Historical low date: May 2019
Historical low rate: 4%
Median household income in 2018: $50,247

tourists in French Quarter in New Orleans Lousisana

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44. Louisiana

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.5%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.2%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 2.7 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2007
Historical low rate: 4.1%
Median household income in 2018: $47,905

Seattle, Washington, USA downtown skyline at night with Mt.

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45. Washington

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.5%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.3%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 5.8 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2018
Historical low rate: 4.4%
Median household income in 2018: $74,073

Scottsdale, Arizona, USA - March 9, 2019: The City owned iconic Old Town Scottsdale cowboy welcome sign located in the Old Town district.

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46. Arizona

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.8%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 6 percentage points
Historical low date: July 2007
Historical low rate: 3.6%
Median household income in 2018: $59,246

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA downtown skyline at dusk.

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47. New Mexico

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.8%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 7.8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3 percentage points
Historical low date: September 2007
Historical low rate: 3.7%
Median household income in 2018: $47,169

Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, USA - October 7, 2018 - View of High Street and Lower Town.

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48. West Virginia

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 4.8%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8.3%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 3.5 percentage points
Historical low date: July 2008
Historical low rate: 4%
Median household income in 2018: $44,097

Biloxi, Mississippi, USA at Biloxi Lighthouse.

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49. Mississippi

Unemployment rate in October 2019: 5.5%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 10.2%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 4.7 percentage points
Historical low date: January 2019
Historical low rate: 4.7%
Median household income in 2018: $44,717

Juneau, United Stated - May 17, 2011: Business located along South Franklin Street in downtown Juneau, Alaska.

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50. Alaska

Unmployment rate in October 2019: 6.2%
Unemployment rate in October 2009: 8%
Decrease in unemployment rate: 1.8 percentage points
Historical low date: October 2019
Historical low rate: 6.2%
Median household income in 2018: $74,346

Editor’s note: This unemployment rate is an all-time low for the state.

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: GOBankingRates looked at all 50 states and ranked them according to (1) their current (October 2019) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rates, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data on the employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population from January 1979 to date. GOBankingRates then compiled (2) each state’s unemployment rate in October 2009 (sourced from the BLS’s local area unemployment statistics) to calculate (3) the percentage point decrease in each state’s unemployment rate over the last decade. For each state, GOBankingRates provided supplemental data, including (4) the historical low unemployment rate between January 1979 and October 2019 and (5) when the historical low occurred (both sourced from the BLS’s local area unemployment statistics), as well as (6) the current (2018) median household income according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. All data was compiled on and is up to date as of Dec. 2, 2019.

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