Select Category:
| More

State Labor Force Participation Rates



Labor force participation -- those either employed or looking for work -- has declined in nearly all states since the recession began.

The national labor force participation rate had fallen 2.4 percent to 63.6 percent as of May, the lowest level since 1981. Utah and other states have experienced significant shifts in recent years. Only Virginia's participation rate has increased since 2008.

Job losses account for part of the decrease, with some workers ending their search for work and exiting the labor force. Demographics also explain much of the rate changes. States with high populations of young people and those near retirement age tend to be more affected when the economy takes a hit.

Select a state below to view figures dating back to the start of the recession in December 2007:

 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data current as of May 2012.

The following states experienced the largest labor force percentage decreases since the start of the recession:

State Current Participation Rate Change Since 12-2007
Utah 62.6% -5.7%
Delaware 57.3% -4.7%
Michigan 54.8% -4.5%
New Mexico 54.5% -4.4%
Georgia 58.3% -4.1%
Colorado 63.7% -3.8%
Florida 55.0% -3.8%
Alabama 53.0% -3.8%
Hawaii 58.3% -3.6%
South Carolina 54.0% -3.3%

Related Content



Comments



Add Your Comment

You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. GOVERNING reserves the right to remove comments that are considered profane, vulgar, obscene, factually inaccurate, off-topic, or considered a personal attack.

Comments must be fewer than 2000 characters.
About

GOVERNING Data is your source for state and local government statistics and public records.


Feel free to use any data or visualizations in your own reports with attribution and a link to the source.


Contact: Mike Maciag, mmaciag@governing.com

Daily Digit

40%

The number of small businesses in the nation that are subject to licensing regulations by multiple agencies or governments, according to a recent survey.

More Digits


© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved.    |   Privacy Policy   |   Site Map