What does this unemployment — high school ranking show?

It orders states by Unemployment: high-school graduates. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B23006 supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Jobs

Lowest unemployment — high school by state

Unemployment: high-school graduates.

Unemployment among the civilian labor force ages 25–64 with a high-school diploma or equivalent. County estimates use ACS 5-year data; state estimates use ACS 1-year data. This is a labor-market signal, not a measure of earnings, job quality, openings, underemployment, or whether a degree is rewarded.

How to read this ranking

North Dakota has the lowest published unemployment — high school in this comparison, at 2.4%. The next states shown are New Hampshire (2.5%) and Vermont (2.9%).

The table orders 51 states by unemployment: high-school graduates. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Unemployment among the civilian labor force ages 25–64 with a high-school diploma or equivalent. County estimates use ACS 5-year data; state estimates use ACS 1-year data. This is a labor-market signal, not a measure of earnings, job quality, openings, underemployment, or whether a degree is rewarded.

1North Dakota2.4%
2New Hampshire2.5%
3Vermont2.9%
4Maine3.1%
5Montana3.1%
6Idaho3.3%
7Utah3.7%
8Wisconsin3.7%
9South Dakota3.8%
10Arkansas3.9%
11Missouri3.9%
12Wyoming3.9%
13Virginia4.0%
14Hawaii4.1%
15Kansas4.2%
16Nebraska4.2%
17Ohio4.3%
18Minnesota4.4%
19North Carolina4.4%
20Indiana4.5%
21Massachusetts4.5%
22Iowa4.6%
23Mississippi4.6%
24Colorado4.7%
25Texas4.7%
26Florida4.8%
27Pennsylvania4.8%
28South Carolina4.8%
29Tennessee4.8%
30Arizona4.9%
31Washington5.0%
32Delaware5.1%
33Oklahoma5.1%
34Connecticut5.2%
35Alabama5.3%
36Georgia5.3%
37Kentucky5.3%
38Michigan5.4%
39New Mexico5.4%
40Oregon5.5%
41Maryland5.6%
42West Virginia5.8%
43New Jersey5.9%
44California6.0%
45Louisiana6.0%
46Nevada6.1%
47Illinois6.2%
48New York6.3%
49Alaska7.3%
50Rhode Island7.8%
51District of Columbia16.3%

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Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Unemployment: high-school graduates. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B23006. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS Table B23006. · How this is built

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