This data is relevant to the 2012 elections because historically, high unemployment has proven an important factor on voters deciding which candidates and political parties to support.
The national unemployment rate for June 2011 was 9.2%. "No American president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has won a second term in office when the unemployment rate on Election Day topped 7.2 percent," per the New York Times on June 1, 2011.
Civilian Unemployment by State, Seasonally Adjusted
As of June 2011
- Very High Unemployment Rate
- 1. Nevada - 12.4%
- 2. California - 11.8%
- 3. Rhode Island - 10.8%
- 4. Florida - 10.6%
- 5. Michigan - 10.5%
- 5. South Carolina - 10.5%
- 7. Mississippi - 10.3%
- 8. North Carolina - 9.9%
- 8. Alabama - 9.9%
- 8. Georgia - 9.9%
- 11. Tennessee - 9.8%
- High Unemployment Rate
- 12. Kentucky - 9.6%
- 13. New Jersey - 9.5%
- 14. Oregon - 9.4%
- 14. Idaho - 9.4%
- 16. Arizona - 9.3%
- 17. Illinois - 9.2%
- 17. Washington - 9.2%
- 19. Connecticut - 9.1%
- 20. Ohio - 8.8%
- 20. Missouri - 8.8%
- 22. Colorado - 8.5%
- 22. West Virginia - 8.5%
- 24. Indiana - 8.3%
- 25. Texas - 8.2%
- 26. Arkansas - 8.1%
- 27. New York - 8.0%
- 27. Delaware - 8.0%
- Median Unemployment Rate
- 29. Louisiana - 7.8%
- 29. Maine - 7.8%
- 31. Wisconsin - 7.6%
- 31. Pennsylvania - 7.6%
- 31. Massachusetts - 7.6%
- 34. Montana - 7.5%
- 34. Alaska - 7.5%
- 36. Utah - 7.4%
- 37. Maryland - 7.0%
- 38. New Mexico - 6.8%
- 39. Minnesota - 6.7%
- 40. Kansas - 6.6%
- Low Unemployment Rate
- 41. Iowa - 6.0%
- 41. Virginia - 6.0%
- 41. Hawaii - 6.0%
- 44. Wyoming - 5.9%
- 45. Vermont - 5.5%
- 46. Oklahoma - 5.3%
- 47. New Hampshire - 4.9%
- 48. South Dakota - 4.8%
- 49. Nebraska - 4.1%
- 50. North Dakota - 3.2%