US Unemployment Rate States

Unemployment Rate in the United States

The Covid 19 pandemic interrupted a very positive reduction in the unemployment rate in the United states. 8 years of strong growth during the bull market stock market was crippled by the shutdowns.

Now in late 2021, the economic recovery is beginning to deliver stronger job growth (4.8% unemployment rate) and much lower rates, yet the US jobs market forecast has some headwinds. A number of strange forces are slowing the job growth rate.

See the unemployment rates for each US state and top 250 cities below.

This Covid recession is something none have experienced in our lifetimes. Only those who survived the great Spanish Flu epidemic would understand. Unfortunately, it’s trendy today to ignore the wisdom of the past. And that’s what makes forecasts so valuable.

The data provided by Trading Economics provides us with excellent snapshots of the employment levels, however we still need to interpret why job growth is happening and whether it will continue. Job growth will reflect stock market growth and economic growth.

US Labor Participation Rate

This graphic suggests the participation rate is heading downward, which is disturbing. The unemployment doesn’t mean much when then this rate drops. When fewer people participate, it can put pressure on the economy and social safety nets.


Job Openings

Job openings in 2021 have rocketed as businesses reopened, yet workers have moved or don’t want to return to what they were doing before. For the unemployed, it’s created a bonanza of opportunity, if they have a place to live and can afford to live on the wages offered.

US Unemployment a Tough Issue The Government Can’t Handle

US unemployment is an extremely complicated issue so if the economists can’t explain it to you, it’s because they can’t comprehend it either. The trends vary from city to city and state to state, which reminds everyone of how complex the United States is as a nation. The promise of fascism had taken hold the last few years, but people are realizing this country is full of people and groups who have their own value and do not serve corporate objectives.
The coming battle between multinational corporations and Americans will be vicious. Reconsider your investment in Faang stocks.

 

The rise of inflation is a concern and has traditionally forewarned of market crashes. Will this be the exception? My Uncle always warned that when help wanted signs appeared on business store fronts, a crash is coming. Yet media experts say this time it’s different. They believe the Democrats can spend to oblivion and keep the ship afloat. With debt issues and inflation rocketing, some have doubts.

The Republicans look to see Democrat dependence on printed money as their big weakness and they’ll may block out of control, unjustified spending. If the Republicans regain control of the senate in 2022, spending will end. Unemployment will rise.

That means this weak fledgling, debt driven recovery might not have any legs. Americans haven’t come to grips with the realization of $700 billion dollar trade deficits and $30 Trillion dollar debts and debt ceiling limits. In early December, this issue comes back into the media and political arena full force. The fact is, the US is already in default and can’t go on.

In 2023, an economic force (rising interest rates, ended government stimulus) will push unemployment up. Millions of Americans will be devastated (the poor and unhoused) creating a new political movement of pro American employment. Never seen before pressures will hit the Democrats and Republicans. The media will lose all credibility and it is going to be rough period.

Hold on though, since we’ll get through it with new leadership and rules. The disaster will result in a new realization and commitment to American values. Obedience to unrealistic global, multinational profit goals and ideologies will collapse. It may be the end of globalism. The American economy will regrow and surge forward as US business supports itself and begins to pursue its agenda again.

A new common sense approach to energy will emerge with technology playing a role in using fossil fuels in an environmentally sensitive way. Clean coal and clean oil will rise as real solutions because they have to. The world needs a lot of energy. Alternative energy sources have failed. The experiment is over.

The best jobs in the US will respond to solve the global climate crisis and create profit from it. It’s all about turning bad to good. The green stocks people will invest in, are fossil fuel companies that have evolved.

Joblessless in September

Job growth was expected in September and it happened, but that’s hardly enough of the real story in work today. The jobless rate improved significantly from 5.2% down to 4.8%. Yet few economists were jumping for joy. There’s a deeper issue here.

US Jobless Rate Falls More than Forecast

The US unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent in September 2021, from 5.2 percent in the previous month and below market expectations of 5.1 percent. It was the lowest rate since March 2020, as many people left the labor force and the negative effects of Hurricane Ida and the Delta variant’s summer spike started to fade. Still, the jobless rate remained well above the pre-crisis level of about 3.5 percent due to ongoing labor shortages but is seen declining further in the coming months as companies fill widespread vacancies and as more workers are expected to go back into the labor force — Statista

The unemployment rate is expected to fall as the United States reopens its shut down economy, which in hindsight was extremely destructive to employment. Corporations adopted technology including AI technology to reduce costs and widen service. For the unemployed and poverty stricken, how multinationals view growth is important. In a recession, companies cut labor costs and forget about growth.

With vaccinations and Merck pills administered, the death rate from Covid will fall and we’ll see workers heading back to situations that they’ve feared for almost 2 years.

The economic reopening does have power yet small businesses are unsupported and vulnerable. The astonishing intelligence and resilience of small business owners is actually the biggest positive in this China Wuhan virus crisis. US small business owners insist on living and thriving. Incredible persistence despite perennial low support from government.

US Worker Wages in 2021

US wages for workers have seen strong growth due to the Covid threats and unavailability. Now as more workers enter the workforce we might see this moderate. The growth however is a positive for those looking for new positions.


Cost of US Employees

In this graph, we see labor costs haven’t risen much which is a big positive for multinationals and small businesses. This means US workers are a bargain. Compare this to inflation and capital investment costs, and you see how American workers are a big key to future profits.


Full Time Employment in the Gig Economy

As long as multinationals rule, the gig economy determines employment. This chart from Statista show something very positive. It’s a growth in full time employment.

State Unemployment Rate Changes

State unemployment rate changes from July to August. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

State July August Change
Alabama 7.1 3.1 4
Alaska 7.2 6.4 -0.8
Arizona 7 6.2 -0.8
Arkansas 6.5 4.2 -2.3
California 12.3 7.5 -4.8
Colorado 7.1 5.9 -1.2
Connecticut 8.4 7.2 -1.2
Delaware 7.9 5.4 -2.5
District of Columbia 8.8 6.5 -2
Florida 7.9 5 -2.9
Georgia 7 3.5 -3.5
Hawaii 14.1 7 -7.1
Idaho 4.9 2.9 -2
Illinois 11.1 7 -4.1
Indiana 7.3 4.1 -3.2
Iowa 5.3 4.1 -1.2
Kansas 6.2 3.8 -2.4
Kentucky 5.5 4.3 -1.2
Louisiana 8.2 6.2 -2
Maryland 8.6 5.9 -2.7
Massachusetts 9.3 5 -4
Michigan 8.5 4.7 -3.8
Minnesota 6.6 3.8 -2.8
Mississippi 7.8 6 -1.8
Missouri 6 4 -2
Montana 5.8 3.5 -2.3
Nebraska 4 2.2 -1.8
Nevada 14.5 7.7 -6.8
New Hampshire 6.6 3 -3.6
New Jersey 11 7.2 -3.8
New Mexico 9.3 7.2 -2.1
New York 11.7 7.4 -4.3
North Carolina 6.8 4.3 -2.5
North Dakota 6.1 3.6 -2.5
Ohio 9 5.4 3.6
Oklahoma 6.3 3.2 -3.1
Oregon 8.4 4.9 -3.5
Pennsylvania 10.2 6.4 -3.8
Rhode Island 12.6 5.8 -6.8
South Carolina 5.4 4.2 -1.2
South Dakota 4.7 2.9 -1.8
Tennessee 8.1 4.6 -3.5
Texas 6.9 5.9 -1
Utah 4.8 2.6 -2.2
Vermont 5.4 3 -2.4
Virginia 7 4 -3
Washington 9.1 5.1 -4
West Virginia 8.5 4.8 -3.7
Wisconsin 6.1 3.9 -2.2
Wyoming 6.2 4.9 -1.3

Unemployment Rates for 250 US Cities

Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Metropolitan area August 2021 Rate US City Rank
United States 5.3
Lincoln, NE 1.7 1
Grand Island, NE 1.9 2
Logan, UT-ID 2 3
Idaho Falls, ID 2.1 4
Gainesville, GA 2.2 5
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA 2.3 6
Provo-Orem, UT 2.3 6
Columbia, MO 2.4 8
Sioux Falls, SD 2.4 8
Enid, OK 2.5 10
Fargo, ND-MN 2.5 10
Jefferson City, MO 2.5 10
Ogden-Clearfield, UT 2.5 10
Decatur, AL 2.6 14
Huntsville, AL 2.6 14
Oklahoma City, OK 2.6 14
Pocatello, ID 2.6 14
Portsmouth, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA 2.6 14
Salt Lake City, UT 2.6 14
Boise City, ID 2.7 20
Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan NECTA 2.7 20
Dover-Durham, NH-ME Metropolitan NECTA 2.7 20
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO 2.7 20
Lewiston, ID-WA 2.7 20
Springfield, MO 2.7 20
St. George, UT 2.7 20
Twin Falls, ID 2.7 20
Athens-Clarke County, GA 2.8 28
Billings, MT 2.8 28
Bismarck, ND 2.8 28
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL 2.8 28
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 2.8 28
Manchester, NH Metropolitan NECTA 2.8 28
Missoula, MT 2.8 28
Rochester, MN 2.8 28
Winchester, VA-WV 2.8 28
Auburn-Opelika, AL 2.9 37
Coeur d’Alene, ID 2.9 37
Columbus, IN 2.9 37
Rapid City, SD 2.9 37
Rome, GA 2.9 37
Tulsa, OK 2.9 37
Warner Robins, GA 2.9 37
Ames, IA 3 44
Great Falls, MT 3 44
Hinesville, GA 3 44
Joplin, MO 3 44
Lawton, OK 3 44
Mankato-North Mankato, MN 3 44
St. Joseph, MO-KS 3 44
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 3.1 51
Birmingham-Hoover, AL 3.1 51
Dalton, GA 3.1 51
Grand Forks, ND-MN 3.1 51
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 3.1 51
Madison, WI 3.1 51
Savannah, GA 3.1 51
Valdosta, GA 3.1 51
Brunswick, GA 3.2 59
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL 3.2 59
Jonesboro, AR 3.2 59
Lexington-Fayette, KY 3.2 59
Sheboygan, WI 3.2 59
Staunton-Waynesboro, VA 3.2 59
Appleton, WI 3.3 65
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA 3.3 65
Cheyenne, WY 3.3 65
Dothan, AL 3.3 65
Harrisonburg, VA 3.3 65
Wausau, WI 3.3 65
Charlottesville, VA 3.4 71
Fort Smith, AR-OK 3.4 71
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 3.4 71
Macon-Bibb County, GA 3.4 71
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD 3.4 71
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC 3.5 76
Bowling Green, KY 3.5 76
Eau Claire, WI 3.5 76
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL 3.5 76
Fond du Lac, WI 3.5 76
Knoxville, TN 3.5 76
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 3.5 76
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN 3.5 76
Amarillo, TX 3.6 84
Bloomington, IN 3.6 84
Green Bay, WI 3.6 84
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC 3.6 84
Iowa City, IA 3.6 84
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN 3.6 84
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 3.6 84
Owensboro, KY 3.6 84
Roanoke, VA 3.6 84
Chattanooga, TN-GA 3.7 93
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 3.7 93
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 3.7 93
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 3.7 93
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC 3.7 93
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN 3.7 93
Morgantown, WV 3.7 93
Raleigh, NC 3.7 93
St. Cloud, MN 3.7 93
Tuscaloosa, AL 3.7 93
Alexandria, LA 3.8 103
Ann Arbor, MI 3.8 103
Asheville, NC 3.8 103
Austin-Round Rock, TX 3.8 103
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 3.8 103
Columbus, GA-AL 3.8 103
Corvallis, OR 3.8 103
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 3.8 103
Duluth, MN-WI 3.8 103
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY 3.8 103
Evansville, IN-KY 3.8 103
Kansas City, MO-KS 3.8 103
Manhattan, KS 3.8 103
Topeka, KS 3.8 103
Dubuque, IA 3.9 117
Fairbanks, AK 3.9 117
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 3.9 117
Midland, MI 3.9 117
Portland-South Portland, ME Metropolitan NECTA 3.9 117
Walla Walla, WA 3.9 117
Wilmington, NC 3.9 117
Columbia, SC 4 124
Gadsden, AL 4 124
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA 4 124
Lawrence, KS 4 124
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR 4 124
Lynchburg, VA 4 124
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 4 124
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL 4.1 131
Cleveland, TN 4.1 131
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 4.1 131
Johnson City, TN 4.1 131
Panama City, FL 4.1 131
Richmond, VA 4.1 131
Abilene, TX 4.2 137
Albany, GA 4.2 137
College Station-Bryan, TX 4.2 137
Gainesville, FL 4.2 137
Montgomery, AL 4.2 137
Morristown, TN 4.2 137
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL 4.2 137
New Bern, NC 4.2 137
Reno, NV 4.2 137
Sherman-Denison, TX 4.2 137
St. Louis, MO-IL(1) 4.2 137
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC 4.3 148
Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV 4.3 148
Jacksonville, FL 4.3 148
Lubbock, TX 4.3 148
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL 4.3 148
Prescott, AZ 4.3 148
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI 4.3 148
Spartanburg, SC 4.3 148
Wenatchee, WA 4.3 148
Winston-Salem, NC 4.3 148
Bend-Redmond, OR 4.4 158
Boulder, CO 4.4 158
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA 4.4 158
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 4.4 158
Ithaca, NY 4.4 158
Jackson, TN 4.4 158
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 4.4 158
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 4.4 158
Salem, OR 4.4 158
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 4.4 158
Bangor, ME Metropolitan NECTA 4.5 168
Beckley, WV 4.5 168
Burlington, NC 4.5 168
Cedar Rapids, IA 4.5 168
Charleston, WV 4.5 168
Florence, SC 4.5 168
Hot Springs, AR 4.5 168
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 4.5 168
Janesville-Beloit, WI 4.5 168
Olympia-Tumwater, WA 4.5 168
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL 4.5 168
San Angelo, TX 4.5 168
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 4.5 168
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL 4.6 181
Carson City, NV 4.6 181
Clarksville, TN-KY 4.6 181
Glens Falls, NY 4.6 181
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 4.6 181
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 4.6 181
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV 4.6 181
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA 4.6 181
Terre Haute, IN 4.6 181
Waco, TX 4.6 181
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 4.7 191
Columbus, OH 4.7 191
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4.7 191
Fort Collins, CO 4.7 191
Goldsboro, NC 4.7 191
Greenville, NC 4.7 191
Jacksonville, NC 4.7 191
Tallahassee, FL 4.7 191
Tyler, TX 4.7 191
Wichita Falls, TX 4.7 191
California-Lexington Park, MD 4.8 201
Gettysburg, PA 4.8 201
Medford, OR 4.8 201
Mobile, AL 4.8 201
Muncie, IN 4.8 201
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 4.8 201
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 4.8 201
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 4.8 201
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 4.8 201
Anchorage, AK 4.9 210
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL 4.9 210
Fort Wayne, IN 4.9 210
Kennewick-Richland, WA 4.9 210
Lafayette, LA 4.9 210
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 4.9 210
Monroe, LA 4.9 210
Port St. Lucie, FL 4.9 210
Sumter, SC 4.9 210
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4.9 210
Albany, OR 5 220
Baton Rouge, LA 5 220
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH Metropolitan NECTA 5 220
Casper, WY 5 220
Eugene, OR 5 220
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 5 220
Punta Gorda, FL 5 220
Salisbury, MD-DE 5 220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 5 220
Bay City, MI 5.1 229
Danbury, CT Metropolitan NECTA 5.1 229
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 5.1 229
Greensboro-High Point, NC 5.1 229
Jackson, MI 5.1 229
Kingston, NY 5.1 229
Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan NECTA 5.1 229
Racine, WI 5.1 229
Texarkana, TX-AR 5.1 229
Barnstable Town, MA Metropolitan NECTA 5.2 238
Bellingham, WA 5.2 238
Bloomington, IL 5.2 238
Canton-Massillon, OH 5.2 238
Monroe, MI 5.2 238
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA 5.2 238
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC 5.2 238
Rochester, NY 5.2 238
Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ 5.2 238
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY 5.2 238
Wichita, KS 5.2 238
Akron, OH 5.3 249
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 5.3 249
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 5.3 249
Dayton, OH 5.3 249

Baby Boomers Not Necessarily Retiring

It’s believed everyone retires at 65 but it’s just not true. That was more a corporate objective to get rid of those with high wages (they’ll keep doing that).  With Artificial Intelligence technology coming in, there may be a chance to keep seniors employed. The system can accommodate them.

Unemployment by Occupation USA

Occupation
Total unemployed Unemployment rates
Sept.
2020
Sept.
2021
Total
Sept.
2020
Sept.
2021
Total, 16 years and over(1) 12,277 7,366 7.7 4.6
Management, professional, and related 2,946 1,580 4.5 2.4
Management, business, and financial operations 1,336 669 4.8 2.3
Management 831 377 4.3 1.9
Business and financial operations 504 292 5.8 3.2
Professional and related 1,611 911 4.3 2.4
Computer and mathematical 189 123 3.5 2.2
Architecture and engineering 108 96 3.4 2.9
Life, physical, and social science 63 37 3.9 2
Community and social service 78 67 2.8 2.3
Legal 39 33 2 1.7
Education, training, and library 551 260 5.8 2.8
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media 313 133 9.4 4.2
Healthcare practitioners and technical 270 162 2.7 1.6
Service 3,200 1,758 12 6.4
Healthcare support 385 280 7.2 5.3
Protective service 137 139 4.2 4.6
Food preparation and serving related 1,473 675 17.7 7.8
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance 576 361 10 5.7
Personal care and service 629 303 15.8 7.2
Sales and office 2,610 1,525 8.1 4.9
Sales and related 1,388 782 8.9 5.2
Office and administrative support 1,222 743 7.3 4.6
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 1,023 700 7 4.7
Farming, fishing, and forestry 61 71 5.9 6.5
Construction and extraction 702 427 8 4.9
Installation, maintenance, and repair 261 202 5.3 3.9
Production, transportation, and material moving 1,953 1,298 9.7 6.3
Production 691 463 8.2 5.5
Transportation and material moving 1,262 835 10.7 6.9

 

This too will affect the US unemployment rate which measures those looking for work. With so many seniors unemployed and without retirement funds, they will remain in the active workforce. Although many are of poor health, others are very healthy and capable of working into their 80s.

This is not the employment environment of 40 years ago. The whole realm of employability is changing along with international trade and economic changes. The US government knows China and India have billions of young workers, and will begin to focus instead on employing our youth instead.

This is not what the big tech companies and multinationals want, but it has to be. If Americans have no money to spend, the US will become a forgotten entity. That’s not good for the US unemployment rate.

See more on the stock market forecast next 3 months.

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