State Unemployment Rates, August 2026: District of Columbia Highest at 5.7%
District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate at 5.7% in August 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Local Area Unemployment Statistics program; South Dakota had the lowest, at 2.0%. The national unemployment rate was 4.1% in August 2026, the same as in July 2026. 21 of the 50 states and DC had a rate above the U.S. rate. SNAP enrollment and State Distress Index scores are shown for cross-reference.
Data period: August 2026 ·
Which States Have the Highest Unemployment?
The highest state rate in August 2026 is 5.7% in District of Columbia; the lowest is 2.0% in South Dakota. 21 jurisdictions are above the U.S. rate of 4.1%, 28 are below it and 2 match it.
The unweighted average across the 50 states and DC is 3.9%, with a median of 3.9%. This gives each jurisdiction equal weight; it is not the official US unemployment rate. The national unemployment rate was 4.1% in August 2026, the same as in July 2026. American Default Research also publishes state-level distress scores. The American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical) nationally. The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005.
At a Glance
Same-month comparison: August 2025 → August 2026. 17 jurisdictions had a higher rate than a year earlier, 30 a lower rate, 4 the same rate, and 0 had no same-month prior-year observation. Changes and ranks are American Default Research calculations from the BLS rates; they are arithmetic differences, not tests of statistical significance.
The American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical). The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005. Unemployment feeds the distress data through two channels: the national unemployment rate and initial jobless claims are the two inputs to the index's Labor domain, and each state's three-month average unemployment rate is the Labor domain in the State Distress Index. State delinquency rates and SNAP enrollment are published separately. The State Distress Rankings page shows every domain for every state.
Which 15 States Have the Highest Unemployment?
The highest rate, in District of Columbia, is 5.7%. The chart shows the 15 highest rates in August 2026; the full table below lists every state.
Unemployment Rate by State — Top 15 (August 2026)
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Seasonally adjusted monthly rates, August 2026.
Equal rates are tied; alphabetical order selects jurisdictions when a tie crosses the 15-row cutoff.
Does Higher Unemployment Mean Higher Financial Distress?
A state can have moderate unemployment and still score high on household distress, because delinquency, the courts, and severe renter cost burden each carry their own weight in the State Distress Index. Unemployment is also one of the index's domains, so part of any pattern in this chart is built in: the two axes are not independent measures. The chart plots each state once; it does not show that unemployment causes distress. States also differ in their foreclosure timelines and legal protections.
Unemployment Rate vs. State Distress Index Score (All 51 Jurisdictions)
BLS LAUS (August 2026) x State Distress Index.
Full state rankings: State Financial Distress Rankings
How Is Unemployment Trending Month to Month?
Monthly unemployment rates since January 2022 for five jurisdictions among those with the highest rates in August 2026, alongside the unweighted average across the 50 states and DC. Equal current rates are tied; alphabetical order selects the five charted jurisdictions. In June 2022, most states had rates below 4%.
Monthly Unemployment Rate: Unweighted 50-State-and-DC Average and Five High-Rate Jurisdictions (2022–2026)
BLS LAUS. Seasonally adjusted monthly rates.
Gaps mean monthly observations are missing; they are not zero or interpolated. The unweighted average is shown only when all 50 states and DC have an observation for that month. It is not the official US unemployment rate.
National labor market indicators: Unemployment & Job Market Statistics
How Does Unemployment Relate to Food Assistance?
This chart plots each state's unemployment rate against its SNAP enrollment rate: SNAP persons divided by the state's 2024 U.S. Census Bureau population estimate, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. The two measure different things. The unemployment rate measures joblessness among people in the labor force; SNAP enrollment reflects program eligibility rules and reach as well as need. This page does not compute a correlation between them or explain why a state sits where it does.
Unemployment Rate vs. SNAP Enrollment Rate (All 51 Jurisdictions)
BLS LAUS (August 2026) × USDA FNS SNAP participation data.
SNAP indicator: SNAP Enrollment Rate time series
State Rankings
The 10 highest and 10 lowest jurisdiction rates in August 2026, plus up to 10 increases and decreases for August 2025 → August 2026. Equal values share a rank and sort alphabetically; row limits may omit some tied jurisdictions.
Highest Unemployment
| # | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 5.7% |
| 2 | California | 5.1% |
| 2 | Connecticut | 5.1% |
| 2 | Oregon | 5.1% |
| 5 | Michigan | 5.0% |
| 6 | Arizona | 4.9% |
| 6 | Washington | 4.9% |
| 8 | Nevada | 4.8% |
| 9 | Delaware | 4.7% |
| 9 | Illinois | 4.7% |
Lowest Unemployment
| # | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 2.0% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 2.2% |
| 3 | Vermont | 2.6% |
| 4 | Hawaii | 2.7% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 2.8% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 2.9% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 3.0% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 3.2% |
| 8 | Montana | 3.2% |
| 8 | Maine | 3.2% |
Biggest Increase From a Year Earlier
| # | State | Change (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | +1.0 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | +0.9 |
| 3 | Alabama | +0.6 |
| 3 | Hawaii | +0.6 |
| 3 | New Mexico | +0.6 |
| 6 | Arizona | +0.5 |
| 6 | Florida | +0.5 |
| 6 | Minnesota | +0.5 |
| 9 | Illinois | +0.4 |
| 10 | Virginia | +0.3 |
Biggest Decrease From a Year Earlier
| # | State | Change (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | −1.2 |
| 2 | Ohio | −1.1 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | −0.8 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | −0.7 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | −0.6 |
| 6 | Missouri | −0.5 |
| 6 | South Carolina | −0.5 |
| 8 | California | −0.4 |
| 8 | Indiana | −0.4 |
| 8 | Nevada | −0.4 |
All States: Unemployment, SNAP, and Distress
The full dataset for all 50 states and DC. Unemployment rate from BLS LAUS for August 2026, SNAP enrollment rate from USDA FNS, and State Distress Index score from American Default Research. Rates above the U.S. rate of 4.1% are highlighted in red. Year-over-year changes compare August 2025 → August 2026.
| State | Unemp. % | Change From a Year Earlier | SNAP % | SDI Score | SDI Fifth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3.4 | +0.6 | 12.7 | 72 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Alaska | 4.3 | −0.3 | 9.6 | 20 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Arizona | 4.9 | +0.5 | 5.5 | 76 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Arkansas | 3.9 | −0.3 | 7.2 | 54 | Middle fifth |
| California | 5.1 | −0.4 | 13.1 | 82 | Most distressed fifth |
| Colorado | 4.0 | +0.1 | 9.7 | 34 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Connecticut | 5.1 | +1.0 | 8.4 | 78 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Delaware | 4.7 | −0.3 | 9.8 | 84 | Most distressed fifth |
| District of Columbia | 5.7 | −0.8 | 19.4 | 74 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Florida | 4.5 | +0.5 | 10.1 | 96 | Most distressed fifth |
| Georgia | 3.2 | −0.2 | 10.8 | 88 | Most distressed fifth |
| Hawaii | 2.7 | +0.6 | 11.1 | 26 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Idaho | 3.6 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 28 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Illinois | 4.7 | +0.4 | 12.1 | 64 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Indiana | 3.3 | −0.4 | 7.1 | 44 | Middle fifth |
| Iowa | 3.2 | −0.3 | 7.5 | 22 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Kansas | 3.8 | +0.1 | 5.5 | 30 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Kentucky | 4.7 | +0.2 | 12.2 | 70 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Louisiana | 4.2 | 0.0 | 13.7 | 98 | Most distressed fifth |
| Maine | 3.2 | −0.1 | 10.6 | 16 | Least distressed fifth |
| Maryland | 4.1 | −0.2 | 10.0 | 68 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Massachusetts | 4.3 | −0.2 | 12.5 | 32 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Michigan | 5.0 | +0.1 | 13.3 | 92 | Most distressed fifth |
| Minnesota | 4.4 | +0.5 | 7.4 | 24 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Mississippi | 3.4 | −0.3 | 10.7 | 90 | Most distressed fifth |
| Missouri | 3.5 | −0.5 | 9.9 | 38 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| Montana | 3.2 | −0.2 | 6.3 | 8 | Least distressed fifth |
| Nebraska | 2.9 | 0.0 | 6.2 | 10 | Least distressed fifth |
| Nevada | 4.8 | −0.4 | 11.4 | 100 | Most distressed fifth |
| New Hampshire | 2.8 | −0.3 | 5.2 | 4 | Least distressed fifth |
| New Jersey | 4.3 | −1.2 | 8.0 | 58 | Middle fifth |
| New Mexico | 4.7 | +0.6 | 20.6 | 80 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| New York | 4.3 | −0.2 | 13.9 | 66 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| North Carolina | 3.5 | −0.4 | 11.3 | 46 | Middle fifth |
| North Dakota | 2.2 | −0.4 | 6.8 | 0 | Least distressed fifth |
| Ohio | 3.3 | −1.1 | 11.2 | 48 | Middle fifth |
| Oklahoma | 4.3 | +0.9 | 13.6 | 60 | Middle fifth |
| Oregon | 5.1 | −0.2 | 16.4 | 62 | Second-most distressed fifth |
| Pennsylvania | 3.7 | −0.7 | 13.2 | 52 | Middle fifth |
| Rhode Island | 3.7 | −0.6 | 10.5 | 42 | Middle fifth |
| South Carolina | 4.1 | −0.5 | 9.0 | 86 | Most distressed fifth |
| South Dakota | 2.0 | −0.1 | 7.7 | 2 | Least distressed fifth |
| Tennessee | 3.4 | −0.1 | 8.4 | 50 | Middle fifth |
| Texas | 4.4 | +0.2 | 9.1 | 94 | Most distressed fifth |
| Utah | 3.5 | −0.1 | 4.2 | 18 | Least distressed fifth |
| Vermont | 2.6 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 6 | Least distressed fifth |
| Virginia | 3.6 | +0.3 | 8.6 | 40 | Middle fifth |
| Washington | 4.9 | +0.3 | 10.4 | 36 | Second-least distressed fifth |
| West Virginia | 4.0 | −0.3 | 14.2 | 56 | Middle fifth |
| Wisconsin | 3.2 | +0.1 | 11.0 | 14 | Least distressed fifth |
| Wyoming | 3.0 | −0.3 | 4.3 | 12 | Least distressed fifth |
Red unemployment rates are above the U.S. rate of 4.1% for August 2026. Changes from a year earlier are American Default Research calculations from BLS LAUS rates. Red changes are increases and green changes decreases; they are not tests of statistical significance. A dash in the change column means the same month last year is unavailable and is excluded from mover rankings. State names link to foreclosure law guides.
The Geography of Labor Market Weakness
BLS publishes state unemployment rates monthly, while many other state distress measures arrive quarterly or yearly. A low headline rate says little about whether the jobs that exist cover the bills, so a state can have low unemployment and still show high SNAP enrollment, high delinquency, or both. Read the rate beside the State Distress Index and the state debt figures rather than on its own.
Data Sources
BLS LAUS
Seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics program, expressed as a percentage of each jurisdiction's labor force. Current rates use August 2026; year-over-year changes compare the same month in the prior year (August 2025), not December or an annual average, and are American Default Research calculations. The unweighted average across the 50 states and DC is an ADR calculation, not the official US unemployment rate. Series IDs follow LASST + FIPS code + 0000000000003 format.
USDA FNS SNAP
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) enrollment from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service State Activity Reports. Enrollment rates computed as SNAP persons divided by Census 2024 state population estimates.
Citation
Local Area Unemployment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2026. SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, September 2026. For state-level distress scores, see State Financial Distress Rankings and Default Rates by State.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the highest unemployment rate in 2026?
The highest rate is 5.7% in District of Columbia as of August 2026. All jurisdictions tied at that rate are named. The national unemployment rate was 4.1% in August 2026, the same as in July 2026. The unweighted average across the 50 states and DC is 3.9%, which is not the official US unemployment rate.
Which state has the lowest unemployment?
The lowest rate is 2.0% in South Dakota as of August 2026. All jurisdictions tied at that rate are named.
How does state unemployment connect to the American Distress Index?
The national unemployment rate and initial jobless claims are the two inputs to the American Distress Index's Labor domain; each state's three-month average unemployment rate is the Labor domain in the State Distress Index. The national unemployment rate was 4.1% in August 2026, the same as in July 2026. The national index currently reads 47.0 (Typical). The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005.
Which state unemployment rate increased the most in the last year?
Connecticut recorded the largest increase, +1.0 percentage points, comparing August 2025 → August 2026. All jurisdictions tied for the largest increase are named. The largest decrease was −1.2 percentage points in New Jersey, including all ties. 17 jurisdictions had a higher rate than a year earlier, 30 a lower rate, 4 the same rate, and 0 had no same-month prior-year observation. Missing prior-year months are excluded; these differences are not tests of statistical significance.
Is there a correlation between unemployment and SNAP enrollment?
This page does not compute one. The chart above plots each state's unemployment rate against its SNAP enrollment rate so you can see where each state sits. Unemployment feeds the State Distress Index; SNAP enrollment does not: American Default Research removed it in July 2026 because enrollment measures program reach rather than household need.