Most States Gained Jobs in July, But Unemployment Rates Still Higher Than Pre-Pandemic Levels

This content leverages data from USAFacts, a non-profit that visualizes governmental data. You can learn more on its website, Facebook, and Twitter.

What’s the story?

• The U.S. economy added 1.8 million jobs in July and the unemployment rate dropped from 11.1% to 10.2%, bringing the total number of jobs recovered during the three month period which began in May to 9.3 million jobs of the 22.2 million jobs lost due to coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns imposed in March and April.
• From June to July, the unemployment rate declined in 30 states, remained essentially unchanged in 11 states, and increased in nine states. Unemployment rates remain high relative to 2019 when the U.S. unemployment rate was as low as 3.5% ― the lowest level of unemployment in 50 years ― with unemployment rates higher in July than a year ago in all states and the District of Columbia. This USAFacts chart shows the percent change in total employment from July 2019 to July 2020:

• The states that experienced the most significant pandemic-induced declines in employment were Hawaii (-16.1%), New York (-13.7%), Massachusetts (-12.2%), Vermont (-12%), Alaska (-11.9%), and Michigan (-11.1%). The states with the smallest declines in employment from July 2019 to July 2020 were Idaho (-1.2%), Utah (-2%), Arizona (-3.6%), Mississippi (-3.7%), Nebraska (-3.9%), and Georgia (-4.1%).
• This USAFacts chart shows the unemployment rate in each state as of July 2020:

• The July 2020 unemployment rate was highest in Massachusetts (16.1%), New York (15.9%), Nevada (14%), New Jersey (13.8%), Pennsylvania (13.7%), and California (13.3%). It was lowest in Utah (4.5%), Nebraska (4.8%), Idaho (5%), Kentucky (5.7%), and South Dakota (6.3%).
• The unemployment rate declined or remained essentially unchanged in 49 states from June to July, which this USAFacts chart shows through the percent change in total employment in each state during that period:

• New Mexico (-0.76%) fared the worst of all the states from June to July, while New Jersey (+3.6%) and Rhode Island (+3.1%) saw the largest increase in employment during that period.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / Hispanolistic)