Unemployment in the U.S. has remained relatively stable over the past year, though it has experienced small fluctuations and a slight overall rise. The job market is still in good shape, as new unemployment claims decreased by 12.4% week-over-week on November 24. There are currently 7.6 million Americans unemployed in total, though, and it’s important to look at some key stats for the latest week to get the complete picture:
- Every state had unemployment claims last week that were lower than in the previous week except for Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Vermont, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Ohio, Idaho, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Montana.
- Surprisingly, 19 states – including Nebraska, Virginia, Oregon – and the District of Columbia had unemployment claims last week that were worse than the same week last year.
To identify where unemployment claims are decreasing the most, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on changes in unemployment claims for several key benchmark weeks. We also considered the number of claims per 100,000 people in the labor force.
Main Findings
States Where Unemployment Claims Are Decreasing the Most
| State | Decreased Most Since Last Week* | Claims Per 100,000 People in the Labor Force (Rank)** |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 6 |
| Arizona | 2 | 5 |
| Georgia | 3 | 8 |
| North Carolina | 4 | 3 |
| Florida | 5 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 6 | 7 |
| New Hampshire | 7 | 2 |
| Indiana | 8 | 12 |
| Arkansas | 9 | 21 |
| Oklahoma | 10 | 9 |
| West Virginia | 11 | 18 |
| Texas | 12 | 13 |
| Mississippi | 13 | 15 |
| South Carolina | 14 | 11 |
| Maryland | 15 | 10 |
| Nevada | 16 | 31 |
| Massachusetts | 17 | 32 |
| Utah | 18 | 20 |
| Wyoming | 19 | 28 |
| California | 20 | 42 |
| Hawaii | 21 | 26 |
| Kansas | 22 | 14 |
| Michigan | 23 | 34 |
| Missouri | 24 | 16 |
| Delaware | 25 | 25 |
| Idaho | 26 | 33 |
| Washington | 27 | 37 |
| Colorado | 28 | 23 |
| New Mexico | 29 | 22 |
| New York | 30 | 35 |
| Tennessee | 31 | 19 |
| Ohio | 32 | 30 |
| South Dakota | 33 | 17 |
| Montana | 34 | 47 |
| Virginia | 35 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 36 | 43 |
| Maine | 37 | 29 |
| Alaska | 38 | 44 |
| Iowa | 39 | 39 |
| Illinois | 40 | 38 |
| New Jersey | 41 | 45 |
| Connecticut | 42 | 41 |
| Rhode Island | 43 | 46 |
| Minnesota | 44 | 50 |
| Vermont | 45 | 40 |
| Kentucky | 46 | 24 |
| Pennsylvania | 47 | 48 |
| North Dakota | 48 | 49 |
| Oregon | 49 | 51 |
| District of Columbia | 50 | 27 |
| Nebraska | 51 | 36 |
*Rank 1 = Decreased Most
**Rank 1 = Fewest
Detailed Findings
| State | Change in Unemployment Claims (Latest Week vs. Previous Week)* | Change in Unemployment Claims (Latest Week vs Same Week of 2024)** | Change in Unemployment Claims (Year to Date vs Same Period of 2024)*** | Unemployment Claims per 100,000 People in the Labor Force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | -50.57% | -25.78% | -7.84% | 46 |
| Arizona | -35.26% | -22.69% | -12.04% | 40 |
| Georgia | -44.11% | -25.54% | -5.90% | 50 |
| North Carolina | -41.56% | -19.53% | -5.09% | 38 |
| Florida | -40.35% | -11.04% | -5.81% | 32 |
| Louisiana | -35.07% | -30.64% | -1.51% | 48 |
| New Hampshire | -32.43% | -29.55% | 3.43% | 38 |
| Indiana | -18.09% | -21.64% | -12.80% | 65 |
| Arkansas | -40.28% | -6.64% | -6.56% | 83 |
| Oklahoma | -33.02% | -6.94% | 1.08% | 52 |
| West Virginia | -26.50% | -9.48% | -4.65% | 82 |
| Texas | -42.85% | 1.77% | 7.06% | 70 |
| Mississippi | -14.45% | -14.37% | -3.67% | 71 |
| South Carolina | -34.54% | 6.24% | 4.98% | 55 |
| Maryland | -26.97% | -19.12% | 13.47% | 54 |
| Nevada | -37.49% | -13.87% | 2.15% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | -15.51% | -22.33% | -8.33% | 131 |
| Utah | -26.50% | -15.51% | 7.66% | 82 |
| Wyoming | -33.53% | -8.00% | 4.30% | 119 |
| California | -36.62% | -10.86% | 0.15% | 170 |
| Hawaii | -21.18% | 17.54% | -6.34% | 118 |
| Kansas | -4.48% | 7.57% | -1.36% | 71 |
| Michigan | -6.64% | -24.25% | -0.93% | 143 |
| Missouri | -11.78% | 3.39% | 3.50% | 81 |
| Delaware | -29.76% | 1.94% | 15.14% | 92 |
| Idaho | 5.80% | -30.63% | -3.43% | 141 |
| Washington | -32.31% | 0.17% | 4.97% | 160 |
| Colorado | -25.36% | 14.03% | 10.06% | 86 |
| New Mexico | -7.12% | 3.92% | 7.50% | 83 |
| New York | -17.98% | 1.76% | 2.98% | 148 |
| Tennessee | -1.67% | -0.86% | 8.70% | 82 |
| Ohio | 6.52% | -1.89% | -3.51% | 121 |
| South Dakota | 10.03% | 0.00% | 4.73% | 82 |
| Montana | 1.30% | -1.92% | -12.25% | 201 |
| Virginia | -31.33% | 40.50% | 24.66% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | 26.52% | -14.99% | -15.80% | 174 |
| Maine | -3.58% | 19.56% | 0.55% | 120 |
| Alaska | -1.41% | 18.24% | -13.26% | 188 |
| Iowa | 24.79% | -16.94% | -9.24% | 162 |
| Illinois | -16.81% | -6.77% | 13.71% | 162 |
| New Jersey | -4.64% | 1.19% | 4.64% | 198 |
| Connecticut | 4.86% | 8.76% | 7.23% | 169 |
| Rhode Island | 5.16% | -1.91% | 9.38% | 200 |
| Minnesota | -1.60% | 2.85% | 5.23% | 238 |
| Vermont | 22.11% | -1.34% | 8.05% | 168 |
| Kentucky | -3.33% | -33.00% | 55.57% | 88 |
| Pennsylvania | 16.30% | 0.78% | 1.60% | 231 |
| North Dakota | 56.90% | -45.68% | -3.06% | 232 |
| Oregon | 17.04% | 20.02% | 8.99% | 262 |
| District of Columbia | -35.87% | 18.16% | 81.02% | 118 |
| Nebraska | 98.46% | 65.06% | 16.12% | 153 |
*Refers to the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims in the week of November 24, 2025 compared to the week of November 17, 2025.
**Refers to the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims in the week of November 24, 2025 compared to the week of November 25, 2024.
***Refers to the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims between the weeks of December 30, 2024 to November 24, 2025 compared to the weeks of January 1, 2024 to November 25, 2024.
(Latest Week vs Previous Week)
- Biggest Decrease*
- 1. Alabama
- 2. Georgia
- 3. Texas
- 4. North Carolina
- 5. Florida
- Smallest Decrease*
- 47. Vermont
- 48. Iowa
- 49. Wisconsin
- 50. North Dakota
- 51. Nebraska
(Latest Week vs Same Week of 2024)
- Biggest Decrease**
- 1. North Dakota
- 2. Kentucky
- 3. Louisiana
- 4. Idaho
- 5. New Hampshire
- Smallest Decrease**
- 47. Alaska
- 48. Maine
- 49. Oregon
- 50. Virginia
- 51. Nebraska
(Year to Date vs Same Period of 2024)
- Biggest Decrease***
- 1. Wisconsin
- 2. Alaska
- 3. Indiana
- 4. Montana
- 5. Arizona
- Smallest Decrease***
- 47. Delaware
- 48. Nebraska
- 49. Virginia
- 50. Kentucky
- 51. District of Columbia
- Least Claims per 100,000 People in Labor Force
- 1. Florida
- 2. New Hampshire
- 3. North Carolina
- 4. Virginia
- 5. Arizona
- Most Claims per 100,000 People in Labor Force
- 47. Montana
- 48. Pennsylvania
- 49. North Dakota
- 50. Minnesota
- 51. Oregon
*Refers to the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims in the week of November 24, 2025 compared to the week of November 17, 2025.
**Refers to the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims in the week of November 24, 2025 compared to the week of November 25, 2024.
***Refers to the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims between the weeks of December 30, 2024 to November 24, 2025 compared to the weeks of January 1, 2024 to November 25, 2024.
Blue States vs. Red States
Ask the Experts
To help provide some guidance for Americans who have lost their jobs or are worried about losing them, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts to provide some additional insight. Click on the experts below to view their bios and responses to the following key questions:
- Do you think the hiring dynamic is currently tilted in the employees’ favor?
- With inflation still significant, what is your advice for people looking to protect their finances?
- Given the current circumstances, what trends do you expect to see in terms of unemployment in the foreseeable future?
- What are your predictions for the job market as we approach the end of 2025 (job gains, hiring confidence, quit rates etc.)?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D., Associate Professor of Organization Theory and Management, Graziadio Business School - Pepperdine University
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Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor & Associate Chair, Public Administration Department, Dyson College of Arts and Science - Pace University
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MS-LAW, MBA, DBA, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP - Professor of Human Resources / International Management, Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship - Nova Southeastern University
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Ph.D., Professor of Management - California State University, Dominguez Hills
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Professor of Economics | College of Business & Economics - Towson University
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Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management, Maine Business School - University of Maine and Management Area Coordinator, MBS Faculty Representative to AFUM, Faculty Liaison to UMaine Cross Country / Track and Field teams
Read More
Methodology
In order to identify where unemployment claims are decreasing the most, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on changes in unemployment insurance initial claims for several key weeks. We also considered the number of claims per 100,000 people in the labor force. The metrics are listed below with their corresponding weights. We then used those metrics to rank-order the states.
- Change in Number of Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims in Latest Week vs. Previous Week: Double Weight (~33.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims in the week of November 24, 2025 compared to the week of November 17, 2025. - Change in Number of Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims in Latest Week vs. Same Week of 2024: Full Weight (~16.67 Points)
Note: This metric measures the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims in the week of November 24, 2025 compared to the week of November 25, 2024. - Change in Number of Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims Year to Date vs. Same Period of 2024: Double Weight (~33.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures the change in the number of unemployment insurance initial claims between the weeks of December 30, 2024 to November 24, 2025 compared to the weeks of January 1, 2024 to November 25, 2024. - Number of Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims per 100,000 People in Labor Force: Full Weight (~16.67 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor.
WalletHub experts are widely quoted. Contact our media team to schedule an interview.