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 »

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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 January 2019 are scheduled to be released on March 11, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.
  • The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment data for January 2019 are scheduled to be released on March 15, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.

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LAU Economic News Releases

December jobless rates up in 4 states, down in 3; payroll jobs up in 8 states

01/18/2019

In December 2018, unemployment rates were higher in 4 states, lower in 3 states, and stable in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 8 states and was essentially unchanged in 42 states and the District.
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Dec. jobless rates down over the year in 250 of 388 metro areas; payroll jobs up in 61

01/30/2019

Jobless rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 250 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 116, and unchanged in 22. Nonfarm payroll employment was up in 61 metropolitan areas over the year and essentially unchanged in 327.
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Current

Annual

Jobless rates down in 32 states in 2017; employment-population ratios up in 12 states

02/27/2018

Annual average unemployment rates in 2017 decreased in 32 states and were little changed or unchanged in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Employment-population ratios increased in 12 states, decreased in 2 states, and were little changed or unchanged in 36 states and the District.
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Archived

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

 

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Mapping Unemployment Rates (States and Counties)
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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)

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, 2017 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • Labor force data by county, 2016 annual averages (TXT, XLS)
  • 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

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)?

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Contact

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

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