The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program produces monthly and annual employment, unemployment, and labor force data for Census regions and divisions, States, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities, by place of residence. More »



Announcement

Information on changes to state and local area labor force estimation in 2015 is available at www.bls.gov/lau/lauschanges2015.htm.

For Your Information

How can I apply for unemployment insurance?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not administer or oversee unemployment insurance (UI) programs. You should contact your State workforce agency for information, using the Department of Labor's Career Onestop Service Locator.

Next Releases:

  • The State Employment and Unemployment data for September 2017 are scheduled to be released on October 20, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.
  • The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment data for September 2017 are scheduled to be released on November 1, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.

On This Page

 

LAU Economic News Releases

August jobless rates up in 8 states, down in 1; payroll jobs up in 6 states, down in 3

09/15/2017

In August, unemployment rates were higher in 8 states, lower in 1 state, and stable in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states, decreased in 3, and was essentially unchanged in 41 states and the District.
HTML | PDF | RSS | Charts

August jobless rates down over the year in 323 of 388 metro areas; payroll jobs up in 326

09/27/2017

Jobless rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 323 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 55, and unchanged in 10. Nonfarm payroll employment was up in 326 metropolitan areas over the year, down in 55, and unchanged in 7.
HTML | PDF | RSS

Current

Annual

Jobless rates down in 38 states in 2016; employment-population ratios up in 36 states

02/28/2017

Annual average unemployment rates in 2016 decreased in 38 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 9 states, and were unchanged in 3 states. Employment-population ratios increased in 36 states and the District, decreased in 12 states, and were unchanged in 2 states.
HTML | PDF | RSS

Archived

Caution: data in many archived news releases have been revised in subsequent releases.

 

Featured LAU Searchable Databases

Databases

Database Name Special
Notice		 Top
Picks		 Data
Finder		 One
Screen		 Multi-
Screen		 Tables Text Files
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
 Special Notice for LAUS Top Picks for LAUS Data Finder for LAUS One Screen Data Search for LAUS Multi Screen Data Search for LAUS Tables for LAUS Text Files for LAUS

 

More Tools

Create Customized Maps

Create Customized Maps Maps
Mapping Unemployment Rates (States and Counties)
Mapping Unemployment Rates (States and Counties)
  • Series Report —Already know the series identifier for the statistic you want? Use this shortcut to retrieve your data.

 

Tables and Maps Created by BLS

Monthly

STATEWIDE DATA

METROPOLITAN AREA DATA


COUNTY DATA

    Table
    • Labor force data by county, not seasonally adjusted, latest 14 months (TXT) (ZIP 1,847KB)
    Map
    • Unemployment rates by county, latest 12-month averages (GIF) (PDF)

NEW ENGLAND DATA BY
MINOR CIVIL DIVISION

    Map
    • Unemployment rates in New England by Minor Civil Division, latest 12-month averages (GIF) (PDF)

Annual Average

STATEWIDE DATA

Tables
Maps
  • Latest annual average State unemployment rates (GIF) (PDF)
  • Latest over-the-year change in unemployment rates by State (GIF) (PDF)
  • Latest employment-population ratios by State (GIF) (PDF)
  • Historical State unemployment rate maps (ZIP) (PDF)

    • How to View Zip Files

METROPOLITAN AREA DATA

Tables
Maps
  • Latest annual average metropolitan area unemployment rates (GIF) (PDF)
  • Historical metropolitan area unemployment rates (ZIP 1.8M) (PDF 1.9M)

How to View Zip Files


COUNTY DATA

Tables
  • Labor force data by county, 2016 annual averages (TXT, XLS) NEW
  • Labor force data by county, 2015 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2014 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2013 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2012 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2011 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2010 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2009 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2008 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2007 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2006 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2005 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2004 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2003 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2002 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2001 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2000 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1999 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1998 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1997 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1996 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1995 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1994 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1993 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1992 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1991 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 1990 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
Maps

NEW ENGLAND DATA BY
MINOR CIVIL DIVISION

Maps
  • Latest annual average Minor Civil Division unemployment rates (GIF) (PDF)
  • Historical Minor Civil Division unemployment rates (ZIP 1.0M) (PDF 1.0M)

    How to View Zip Files


CITY DATA

Tables

 

Featured LAU Documentation

LAU Frequently Asked Questions

People Are Asking...

  1. Does LAUS have information on labor force participation rates and employment-population ratios?
  2. What changes were made to State and local area labor force estimates?
  3. Where can I find information on metropolitan areas, including recent changes?
  4. What areas have the highest or lowest unemployment rates?
  5. How can I apply for unemployment insurance?
  6. Where can I find out if my unemployment insurance benefits will be extended?

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What kind of information does the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program provide?
  2. For what time periods are data available?
  3. How are the labor force components (i.e., civilian labor force, employed, unemployed, and unemployment rate) defined?
  4. What is the American Community Survey (ACS), and what is the relationship between the LAUS and ACS labor force estimates?
  5. What are metropolitan areas and micropolitan areas?
  6. What are labor market areas (LMAs)?
  7. What is the publication schedule for LAUS program news releases?
  8. Why aren't data for all areas (the nation, states, and substate areas) available at the same time?
  9. Why are labor force estimates for subnational areas different between the LAUS program and the Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment (GP)?

All LAU FAQs »

 

LAU Special Notices

 

Related Links

Other BLS Programs

Other Useful Links

 

Contact LAU

Contact

E-mail: Contact LAUS
Telephone number: (202) 691-6392

Cooperating State Agencies Contact List