State Health Compare

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the U.S. unemployment rate, which reached 14.8% in April 2020—the highest rate seen since 1948 when unemployment data collection first began. However, estimates for 2021 and 2022 indicate that the U.S. labor force is recovering from the pandemic’s initial disruption to the labor market, with national and state-level unemployment rates returning to pre-pandemic levels. Joblessness can have catastrophic effects on the lives of individuals and families, including home foreclosure, food insecurity, and delayed or foregone medical care. It is therefore critical to monitor unemployment statistics in the U.S. to better understand which demographic groups disproportionately experience joblessness and to formulate strategies that address unemployment disparities.