What states have the highest unemployment rate?

In September, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent or around seven million workers. However, in addition to this number, there are an additional six million people who have are jobless but have stopped looking for their next gig. Since these individuals are no longer actively looking for a job, they are not counted in the official unemployment rate. 

This distinction can give the impression that the job market is recovering rather quickly, but in reality, the 4.8 percent figure is artificially low. Many workers have voluntarily left their jobs believing that they would be able to provide a job that would pay them more or allow them more flexibility.

Compared to September 2020, the number of workers on payroll has increased in forty-seven states and the District of Colombia. States that have reported the largest job growth include, "California (+795,800), Texas (+711,500), and Florida (+405,900)." As a percent, states that saw the largest increase in employment were "Hawaii (+12.9 percent), Nevada (+6.6 percent), and Texas (+5.9 percent)."

Data from August that was released on 22 October shows that "quits" increased in fourteen states in August. Nationally the quit rate increased 0.2% in August. The states that saw the highest rates of voluntary separation, or workers who quit, were:

As a total number of "quits," Georgia (+35,000), Illinois (+32,000), and Kentucky (+26,000),  saw the highest numbers nationally.

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What states recorded the highest unemployment rate?

Eight states recorded an unemployment rate above seven percent in September:

Which states saw the greatest decrease in their unemployment rate?

From August to September, all but seven states experienced a decrease in unemployment. The most significant decreases were seen in:

The seven that saw no change were, Alabama, California, Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.