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United States Value:
Percentage of civilian workforce ages 16-64 that are unemployed
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Percentage of civilian workforce ages 16-64 that are unemployed
Percentage of civilian workforce ages 16-64 that are unemployed
Percentage of civilian workforce ages 16-64 that are unemployed
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
Percentage of civilian workforce ages 16-64 that are unemployed
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey
US Value: 6.3%
Top State(s): Nebraska: 2.7%
Bottom State(s): Nevada: 9.7%
Definition: Percentage of civilian workforce ages 16-64 that are unemployed
Data Source and Years: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2021
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2023.
There is a strong relationship between employment status and mental and physical health. A stable, safe and well-paying job makes it easier for people to live in healthier neighborhoods, access medical care and afford quality child care, education and nutritious food — all critical factors to maintaining good health that are jeopardized by unemployment. Unemployment is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, especially among adults ages 18-24. Unemployment may also lead to lower self-esteem, higher levels of depression, straining of family ties and loss of work friends. The effects of job loss are not limited to the individual. Studies have shown there is a profound effect on impacted spouses and children.
High unemployment rates increase the economic burden on states due to decreased revenue from income taxes and increased demand for unemployment insurance and social welfare programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on many social and economic factors that affect health and well-being, including employment, food sufficiency and housing stability.
While anyone can experience unemployment, populations with higher unemployment rates include:
The Department of Labor is working on decreasing the impact of the pandemic on the labor force with its Good Job Initiative. The Department has awarded $122 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants to provide workers with new skills and pathways to in-demand jobs.
Evidence-based strategies to reduce the unemployment rate are important, especially for the young adult and emerging young adult populations. Programs designed to smooth the school-to-work transition and develop job mobility are recommended, as well as programs that foster the development of skills relevant to the current labor market. Investing in education is another way to reduce the unemployment rate. Individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to be employed with higher incomes and better working conditions.
Healthy People 2030 tracks multiple measures related to employment, including an objective to increase the percentage of employed working-age-people.
Brand, Jennie E. “The Far-Reaching Impact of Job Loss and Unemployment.” Annual Review of Sociology 41, no. 1 (August 14, 2015): 359–75. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071913-043237.
Davila, Evelyn P., Sharon L. Christ, Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, David J. Lee, Kristopher L. Arheart, William G. LeBlanc, Kathryn E. McCollister, et al. “Young Adults, Mortality, and Employment.” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 52, no. 5 (May 2010): 501–4. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181d5e371.
Dooley, David. “Unemployment, Underemployment, and Mental Health: Conceptualizing Employment Status as a Continuum.” American Journal of Community Psychology 32, no. 1–2 (2003): 9–20. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025634504740.
Dooley, David, Jonathan Fielding, and Lennart Levi. “Health and Unemployment.” Annual Review of Public Health 17, no. 1 (January 1996): 449–65. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.pu.17.050196.002313.
“How Does Employment—or Unemployment—Affect Health?” Issue Brief. Health Policy Snapshot: Public Health and Prevention. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, March 12, 2013. https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2012/12/how-does-employment--or-unemployment--affect-health-.html.
Independent Evaluation Group. Youth Employment Programs: An Evaluation of World Bank and International Finance Corporation Support. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-9794-7.
McGee, Robin E., and Nancy J. Thompson. “Unemployment and Depression Among Emerging Adults in 12 States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2010.” Preventing Chronic Disease 12 (March 19, 2015): 140451. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.140451.
Nikolova, Milena, and Boris N. Nikolaev. “Family Matters: The Effects of Parental Unemployment in Early Childhood and Adolescence on Subjective Well-Being Later in Life.” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 181 (May 26, 2018): 312–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2018.05.005.
Roelfs, David J., Eran Shor, Karina W. Davidson, and Joseph E. Schwartz. “Losing Life and Livelihood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Unemployment and All-Cause Mortality.” Social Science & Medicine 72, no. 6 (March 2011): 840–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.01.005.
“Why Education Matters to Health: Exploring the Causes.” Issue Brief #2. Education and Health Initiative. Richmond, VA: The VCU Center on Society and Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, April 2014. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/test-folder/CSH-EHI-Issue-Brief-2.pdf.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.