List: Cities with the best unemployment recovery rates
The sun sets over the State Capital Building in Lincoln Nebraska
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(NewsNation Now) — The coronavirus pandemic has a direct effect on the nation’s unemployment rate. In June, the U.S. added 850,000 jobs, moving the unemployment rate to 5.9%, which is 60% lower than the peak of 14.8% during the height of the pandemic.
To understand the scope of where in the country workers have been most affected by the pandemic, WalletHub compared 180 cities’ overall unemployment rate along with employment data from June 2021, June 2019, June 2020 and January 2020.
The report used new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which disclosed that it didn’t count some workers on temporary layoffs as unemployed. Therefore, the true unemployment rate may be around 3% higher than reported.
Here are the cities where unemployment rates are bouncing back the most.
Source: WalletHub
| Overall Rank | City | Unemployment Rate (June 2021) | Change in Unemployment (June 2021 vs June 2019) | Change in Unemployment (June 2021 vs January 2020) | Change in Unemployment (June 2021 vs June 2020) | Adjusted Unemployment Rate* (June 2021) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | 2.60% | -16.88% | -9.83% | -63.44% | 2.74% |
| 2 | Omaha, NE | 3.30% | -5.87% | -5.76% | -62.43% | 3.47% |
| 3 | Huntsville, AL | 3.10% | -0.41% | 16.02% | -58.30% | 3.26% |
| 4 | Manchester, NH | 3.40% | 21.92% | 9.05% | -72.61% | 3.58% |
| 5 | Nashua, NH | 3.60% | 22.93% | -5.87% | -71.23% | 3.79% |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | 3.10% | 16.17% | 31.05% | -62.51% | 3.26% |
| 7 | Boise, ID | 3.00% | 35.90% | 15.60% | -59.93% | 3.16% |
| 8 | Sioux Falls, SD | 3.00% | 27.92% | 6.90% | -47.09% | 3.16% |
| 9 | Nampa, ID | 3.60% | 18.59% | 3.03% | -54.45% | 3.79% |
| 10 | Rapid City, SD | 3.40% | 17.80% | 13.88% | -47.61% | 3.58% |
| 11 | Missoula, MT | 3.80% | 28.13% | -8.47% | -56.45% | 4.00% |
| 12 | West Valley City, UT | 3.50% | 27.57% | 24.54% | -52.91% | 3.68% |
| 13 | Billings, MT | 3.90% | 7.48% | 2.02% | -48.28% | 4.10% |
| 14 | Burlington, VT | 3.50% | 40.98% | 68.76% | -62.59% | 3.68% |
| 15 | South Burlington, VT | 3.00% | 68.02% | 67.17% | -58.26% | 3.16% |
| 16 | Spokane, WA | 5.00% | -8.82% | -19.82% | -56.07% | 5.26% |
| 17 | Madison, WI | 3.60% | 17.64% | 70.30% | -48.78% | 3.79% |
| 18 | Overland Park, KS | 3.50% | 27.01% | 40.73% | -41.35% | 3.68% |
| 19 | Charleston, SC | 3.60% | 52.46% | 59.32% | -58.30% | 3.79% |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | 4.10% | 32.15% | 43.12% | -54.42% | 4.31% |
| 21 | Tulsa, OK | 4.40% | 31.24% | 37.04% | -55.44% | 4.63% |
| 22 | Durham, NC | 4.30% | 17.01% | 39.24% | -47.52% | 4.52% |
| 23 | Raleigh, NC | 4.50% | 16.36% | 39.01% | -49.94% | 4.73% |
| 24 | Huntington, WV | 5.20% | 4.53% | 24.36% | -53.58% | 5.47% |
| 25 | Virginia Beach, VA | 4.20% | 50.82% | 51.77% | -53.82% | 4.42% |
| 26 | Fort Smith, AR | 4.50% | 28.70% | 13.87% | -41.16% | 4.73% |
| 27 | Vancouver, WA | 5.50% | 8.26% | 7.65% | -55.61% | 5.79% |
| 28 | Springfield, MO | 4.30% | 54.02% | 26.26% | -48.10% | 4.52% |
| 29 | Juneau, AK | 5.10% | 23.18% | 26.37% | -52.60% | 5.37% |
| 30 | Fargo, ND | 3.60% | 72.60% | 42.78% | -38.68% | 3.79% |
| 31 | Chesapeake, VA | 4.40% | 49.48% | 53.80% | -49.65% | 4.63% |
| 32 | Tacoma, WA | 6.00% | 9.06% | 2.79% | -59.41% | 6.31% |
| 33 | Birmingham, AL | 5.20% | 30.45% | 43.00% | -56.87% | 5.47% |
| 34 | Bismarck, ND | 3.70% | 52.83% | 32.65% | -25.80% | 3.89% |
| 35 | Charleston, WV | 5.40% | 22.38% | 30.52% | -54.22% | 5.68% |
| 36 | Fort Wayne, IN | 5.10% | 53.98% | 45.44% | -57.49% | 5.37% |
| 37 | Charlotte, NC | 5.10% | 30.07% | 49.66% | -48.18% | 5.37% |
| 38 | Scottsdale, AZ | 5.00% | 34.94% | 46.81% | -45.14% | 5.26% |
| 39 | Gilbert, AZ | 4.90% | 36.80% | 46.05% | -39.14% | 5.15% |
| 40 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 4.50% | 16.09% | 30.92% | -15.41% | 4.73% |
| 41 | Austin, TX | 4.50% | 72.40% | 76.43% | -48.44% | 4.73% |
| 42 | Salem, OR | 5.30% | 31.02% | 43.27% | -41.85% | 5.58% |
| 43 | Mobile, AL | 5.90% | 31.04% | 43.94% | -56.45% | 6.21% |
| 44 | Winston-Salem, NC | 5.50% | 25.97% | 45.72% | -44.13% | 5.79% |
| 45 | Pembroke Pines, FL | 5.30% | 64.65% | 66.13% | -56.71% | 5.58% |
| 46 | Columbia, SC | 5.00% | 41.20% | 57.28% | -37.68% | 5.26% |
| 47 | Knoxville, TN | 5.20% | 39.15% | 55.80% | -41.26% | 5.47% |
| 48 | Reno, NV | 5.00% | 59.46% | 46.54% | -41.49% | 5.26% |
| 49 | Pittsburgh, PA | 6.20% | 32.55% | 30.92% | -55.61% | 6.52% |
| 50 | Cape Coral, FL | 5.40% | 56.37% | 47.11% | -49.42% | 5.68% |
| 51 | St. Petersburg, FL | 5.20% | 67.62% | 59.55% | -50.85% | 5.47% |
| 52 | Columbus, GA | 6.00% | 16.00% | 29.74% | -42.51% | 6.31% |
| 53 | Plano, TX | 5.00% | 56.30% | 63.24% | -41.16% | 5.26% |
| 54 | Montgomery, AL | 5.50% | 57.74% | 66.78% | -53.97% | 5.79% |
| 55 | Amarillo, TX | 4.50% | 66.94% | 76.22% | -34.09% | 4.73% |
| 56 | Nashville, TN | 5.10% | 80.34% | 84.20% | -55.53% | 5.37% |
| 57 | Seattle, WA | 4.50% | 107.86% | 94.03% | -54.20% | 4.73% |
| 58 | Providence, RI | 6.20% | 39.10% | 17.19% | -50.10% | 6.52% |
| 59 | Portland, OR | 5.50% | 62.96% | 81.96% | -57.28% | 5.79% |
| 60 | Greensboro, NC | 6.00% | 28.40% | 49.07% | -47.86% | 6.31% |
| 61 | Augusta, GA | 5.90% | 19.31% | 21.02% | -35.19% | 6.21% |
| 62 | Tampa, FL | 5.50% | 60.06% | 60.64% | -50.98% | 5.79% |
| 63 | Cheyenne, WY | 5.10% | 42.14% | 16.55% | -22.73% | 5.37% |
| 64 | Atlanta, GA | 5.90% | 44.76% | 56.43% | -49.54% | 6.21% |
| 65 | Minneapolis, MN | 5.40% | 66.68% | 107.62% | -57.45% | 5.68% |
| 66 | Jacksonville, FL | 5.50% | 53.96% | 55.36% | -37.94% | 5.79% |
| 67 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 5.70% | 55.33% | 55.21% | -42.55% | 6.00% |
| 68 | Chandler, AZ | 5.60% | 46.99% | 57.34% | -36.95% | 5.89% |
| 69 | St. Paul, MN | 5.70% | 66.65% | 87.42% | -53.74% | 6.00% |
| 70 | Anchorage, AK | 6.20% | 31.72% | 46.88% | -42.50% | 6.52% |
| 71 | Indianapolis, IN | 5.70% | 69.04% | 73.14% | -51.38% | 6.00% |
| 72 | Boston, MA | 5.70% | 83.72% | 105.70% | -64.59% | 6.00% |
| 73 | Des Moines, IA | 5.90% | 70.97% | 31.29% | -44.89% | 6.21% |
| 74 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 6.10% | 79.08% | 69.26% | -61.39% | 6.42% |
| 75 | Fremont, CA | 5.30% | 84.52% | 84.80% | -46.59% | 5.58% |
| 76 | Orlando, FL | 6.20% | 92.91% | 91.54% | -68.39% | 6.52% |
| 77 | Grand Rapids, MI | 6.50% | 50.99% | 82.90% | -54.71% | 6.84% |
| 78 | Yonkers, NY | 6.90% | 66.74% | 50.60% | -61.66% | 7.26% |
| 79 | San Jose, CA | 5.70% | 93.86% | 95.51% | -53.32% | 6.00% |
| 80 | Columbus, OH | 6.30% | 56.62% | 46.89% | -41.24% | 6.63% |
| 81 | Tempe, AZ | 6.20% | 50.48% | 61.42% | -37.92% | 6.52% |
| 82 | Newport News, VA | 6.20% | 78.52% | 70.43% | -51.13% | 6.52% |
| 83 | Tallahassee, FL | 5.90% | 56.14% | 54.18% | -30.57% | 6.21% |
| 84 | Cincinnati, OH | 6.90% | 40.18% | 39.44% | -44.99% | 7.26% |
| 85 | Louisville, KY | 5.70% | 25.61% | 41.91% | -10.16% | 6.00% |
| 86 | Richmond, VA | 6.20% | 80.80% | 84.47% | -54.14% | 6.52% |
| 87 | Garland, TX | 5.90% | 70.34% | 81.19% | -40.99% | 6.21% |
| 88 | Mesa, AZ | 6.30% | 49.63% | 51.65% | -34.63% | 6.63% |
| 89 | Aurora, IL | 6.80% | 57.07% | 63.86% | -51.95% | 7.15% |
| 90 | San Francisco, CA | 5.40% | 119.63% | 118.75% | -54.97% | 5.68% |
| 91 | Warwick, RI | 5.70% | 92.83% | 48.20% | -35.30% | 6.00% |
| 92 | Irving, TX | 6.00% | 77.52% | 92.08% | -44.84% | 6.31% |
| 93 | Norfolk, VA | 6.30% | 77.34% | 84.49% | -49.22% | 6.63% |
| 94 | Irvine, CA | 5.80% | 93.26% | 100.55% | -44.99% | 6.10% |
| 95 | Arlington, TX | 6.20% | 77.63% | 87.40% | -43.51% | 6.52% |
| 96 | Little Rock, AR | 6.20% | 74.90% | 69.67% | -38.09% | 6.52% |
| 97 | Worcester, MA | 7.00% | 74.20% | 84.92% | -60.85% | 7.36% |
| 98 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 6.00% | 91.29% | 100.10% | -46.51% | 6.31% |
| 99 | San Antonio, TX | 6.00% | 81.54% | 91.78% | -40.58% | 6.31% |
| 100 | Peoria, AZ | 6.40% | 56.44% | 61.86% | -32.00% | 6.73% |
| 101 | Cedar Rapids, IA | 6.30% | 85.58% | 56.46% | -39.26% | 6.63% |
| 102 | Lubbock, TX | 5.70% | 73.16% | 99.79% | -28.26% | 6.00% |
| 103 | Huntington Beach, CA | 6.20% | 104.49% | 102.76% | -51.36% | 6.52% |
| 104 | Santa Rosa, CA | 6.20% | 103.96% | 93.57% | -48.19% | 6.52% |
| 105 | Wichita, KS | 6.50% | 80.55% | 72.60% | -40.81% | 6.84% |
| 106 | Dallas, TX | 6.40% | 79.77% | 91.32% | -40.19% | 6.73% |
| 107 | Fayetteville, NC | 7.60% | 31.89% | 46.88% | -36.52% | 8.00% |
| 108 | Gulfport, MS | 8.00% | 20.68% | 56.19% | -41.67% | 8.42% |
| 109 | Santa Ana, CA | 6.50% | 104.52% | 109.55% | -51.20% | 6.84% |
| 110 | Grand Prairie, TX | 6.60% | 82.94% | 89.84% | -39.64% | 6.94% |
| 111 | San Diego, CA | 6.70% | 97.51% | 98.61% | -49.81% | 7.05% |
| 112 | Washington, DC | 7.20% | 24.70% | 41.29% | -19.23% | 7.57% |
| 113 | Buffalo, NY | 8.10% | 62.79% | 47.63% | -57.83% | 8.52% |
| 114 | Oxnard, CA | 7.30% | 69.90% | 42.58% | -38.47% | 7.68% |
| 115 | Akron, OH | 8.00% | 46.40% | 27.50% | -41.73% | 8.42% |
| 116 | Phoenix, AZ | 7.10% | 61.88% | 71.99% | -34.17% | 7.47% |
| 117 | El Paso, TX | 6.90% | 77.86% | 81.86% | -35.72% | 7.26% |
| 118 | Oceanside, CA | 7.20% | 90.59% | 97.06% | -51.57% | 7.57% |
| 119 | Fort Worth, TX | 6.70% | 83.68% | 97.14% | -35.97% | 7.05% |
| 120 | Colorado Springs, CO | 6.50% | 107.59% | 104.23% | -42.11% | 6.84% |
| 121 | Houston, TX | 7.20% | 79.70% | 81.41% | -41.53% | 7.57% |
| 122 | Rochester, NY | 8.40% | 59.40% | 38.75% | -52.73% | 8.84% |
| 123 | Kansas City, MO | 6.60% | 83.19% | 80.96% | -27.26% | 6.94% |
| 124 | Casper, WY | 7.20% | 81.37% | 44.46% | -29.82% | 7.57% |
| 125 | St. Louis, MO | 7.40% | 75.58% | 80.08% | -38.84% | 7.78% |
| 126 | Bakersfield, CA | 8.40% | 52.67% | 40.35% | -44.88% | 8.84% |
| 127 | Riverside, CA | 7.30% | 88.10% | 87.06% | -40.92% | 7.68% |
| 128 | Portland, ME | 5.20% | 148.69% | 136.30% | -24.40% | 5.47% |
| 129 | Glendale, AZ | 7.40% | 64.40% | 73.59% | -29.16% | 7.78% |
| 130 | Las Cruces, NM | 7.90% | 24.02% | 45.39% | -17.82% | 8.31% |
| 131 | Detroit, MI | 10.70% | 9.18% | 11.67% | -72.36% | 11.26% |
| 132 | Toledo, OH | 8.70% | 60.29% | 31.48% | -44.63% | 9.15% |
| 133 | Fresno, CA | 8.60% | 41.69% | 46.15% | -37.81% | 9.05% |
| 134 | Oakland, CA | 7.60% | 107.00% | 101.16% | -51.09% | 8.00% |
| 135 | Modesto, CA | 8.70% | 42.56% | 51.85% | -40.32% | 9.15% |
| 136 | Jackson, MS | 8.70% | 29.19% | 71.66% | -38.91% | 9.15% |
| 137 | Ontario, CA | 7.30% | 101.58% | 108.45% | -42.23% | 7.68% |
| 138 | Milwaukee, WI | 8.00% | 55.18% | 103.89% | -37.44% | 8.42% |
| 139 | Laredo, TX | 7.60% | 85.70% | 83.88% | -34.76% | 8.00% |
| 140 | Sacramento, CA | 7.70% | 94.24% | 90.64% | -41.73% | 8.10% |
| 141 | Cleveland, OH | 9.20% | 51.98% | 42.98% | -50.27% | 9.68% |
| 142 | Chattanooga, TN | 7.50% | 81.01% | 89.38% | -29.99% | 7.89% |
| 143 | Albuquerque, NM | 7.90% | 51.12% | 71.21% | -19.46% | 8.31% |
| 144 | Tucson, AZ | 8.20% | 61.46% | 66.23% | -29.37% | 8.63% |
| 145 | Philadelphia, PA | 9.40% | 58.39% | 54.25% | -51.54% | 9.89% |
| 146 | Denver, CO | 6.70% | 159.26% | 144.94% | -47.14% | 7.05% |
| 147 | Anaheim, CA | 7.50% | 130.80% | 136.86% | -53.10% | 7.89% |
| 148 | Baltimore, MD | 8.40% | 51.72% | 61.31% | -23.98% | 8.84% |
| 149 | Wilmington, DE | 9.50% | 66.08% | 47.72% | -51.75% | 9.99% |
| 150 | Henderson, NV | 8.00% | 99.55% | 113.92% | -42.06% | 8.42% |
| 151 | Corpus Christi, TX | 8.10% | 83.66% | 79.66% | -29.96% | 8.52% |
| 152 | Chula Vista, CA | 8.10% | 113.11% | 105.92% | -46.76% | 8.52% |
| 153 | Baton Rouge, LA | 8.70% | 56.76% | 66.85% | -20.59% | 9.15% |
| 154 | Fontana, CA | 8.10% | 109.55% | 120.65% | -37.24% | 8.52% |
| 155 | Shreveport, LA | 9.00% | 50.32% | 61.95% | -18.48% | 9.47% |
| 156 | Aurora, CO | 7.50% | 161.68% | 154.27% | -46.23% | 7.89% |
| 157 | Honolulu, HI | 7.10% | 131.36% | 250.40% | -41.89% | 7.47% |
| 158 | Garden Grove, CA | 8.30% | 149.76% | 156.26% | -55.18% | 8.73% |
| 159 | Stockton, CA | 10.30% | 51.32% | 36.85% | -36.14% | 10.84% |
| 160 | Lewiston, ME | 6.50% | 124.03% | 117.39% | 9.89% | 6.84% |
| 161 | Moreno Valley, CA | 9.00% | 94.95% | 102.53% | -34.64% | 9.47% |
| 162 | Memphis, TN | 9.50% | 97.00% | 95.63% | -33.87% | 9.99% |
| 163 | Santa Clarita, CA | 9.60% | 117.60% | 105.49% | -39.98% | 10.10% |
| 164 | Dover, DE | 10.70% | 82.62% | 76.52% | -45.99% | 11.26% |
| 165 | Brownsville, TX | 10.20% | 69.60% | 50.43% | -21.68% | 10.73% |
| 166 | Las Vegas, NV | 9.70% | 111.08% | 130.44% | -40.80% | 10.20% |
| 167 | Miami, FL | 7.00% | 159.38% | 289.04% | -28.43% | 7.36% |
| 168 | Jersey City, NJ | 9.10% | 163.39% | 142.92% | -47.98% | 9.57% |
| 169 | New Haven, CT | 9.50% | 108.61% | 95.67% | -22.94% | 9.99% |
| 170 | San Bernardino, CA | 10.20% | 103.31% | 108.72% | -34.31% | 10.73% |
| 171 | Los Angeles, CA | 10.50% | 124.02% | 109.69% | -39.89% | 11.05% |
| 172 | New York, NY | 10.10% | 159.96% | 158.05% | -43.98% | 10.63% |
| 173 | Long Beach, CA | 10.80% | 128.63% | 112.00% | -36.93% | 11.36% |
| 174 | Glendale, CA | 10.70% | 152.40% | 133.97% | -42.75% | 11.26% |
| 175 | Bridgeport, CT | 11.70% | 108.83% | 77.86% | -34.61% | 12.31% |
| 176 | Chicago, IL | 10.70% | 133.25% | 179.86% | -41.94% | 11.26% |
| 177 | North Las Vegas, NV | 11.00% | 131.14% | 142.20% | -35.69% | 11.57% |
| 178 | Newark, NJ | 12.70% | 121.86% | 90.30% | -44.19% | 13.36% |
| 179 | Hialeah, FL | 8.20% | 184.55% | 345.04% | -15.46% | 8.63% |
| 180 | New Orleans, LA | 12.00% | 116.47% | 139.05% | -19.81% | 12.62% |
