MONEYThe State Where Jobless Claims Are PlummetingEach Thursday, the Department of Labor Statistics releases its weekly unemployment insurance claims data. The people included in the weekly claims figure have filed to receive unemployment benefits from the government because they have been laid off from their jobs. These claims are filed at the state level. Data is reported by state and nationwide. Though initial jobless claims reached over 6 million in April 2020, they have declined significantly since. And the state where unemployment insurance claims are plummeting is Missouri. ( These are the states where businesses are running out of workers .) Jobless claims paint a partial picture of the labor market and national economy and are often considered with monthly jobs data from ADP and the monthly jobs report from the BLS. All three have shown a sharp recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic-driven recession. Unemployment has dropped to an extremely low 3.9%. Initial claims have dropped in recent months below 300,000 each week, which is low based on historical trends. Using BLS data, 24/7 Wall St. identified the state where weekly initial unemployment insurance claims are plummeting. States were ranked by the change in initial jobless claims filed during the week ending on Jan. 15, 2022 and the week ending Jan. 8, 2022. We included the unemployment rate for December 2021. All claims and unemployment data are the most recent available period, and are not seasonally adjusted. With only five exceptions - Rhode Island, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and California - initial unemployment claims have fallen week over week. No state reported a larger decline in initial unemployment insurance claims than Missouri. Missori's job market in general is relatively strong. The overall unemployment rate in the state stands at just 2.7%, more than a full percentage point below the national jobless rate of 3.9%. ( This state has the highest unemployment in America .)Sturti / Getty Images50. Rhode Island • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +29.9% (464 more claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,018 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,554 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.7% - 19th highestSeanPavonePhoto / IStock Via Getty Images49. Virginia • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +16.6% (406 more claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,849 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,443 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% - 15th lowestSean Pavone / IStock Via Getty Images48. North Carolina • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +8.0% (315 more claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 4,232 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,917 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.2% - 24th lowestKruck20 / IStock Via Getty Images47. Kentucky • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +4.7% (527 more claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 11,772 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,245 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.4% - 23rd highestAlexeys / IStock Via Getty Images46. California • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: +1.3% (805 more claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 62,274 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 61,469 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.0% - 4th highestBjorn Bakstad / IStock Via Getty Images45. Kansas • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -0.8% (-25 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,089 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,114 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.2% - 8th lowestTriggerPhoto / IStock Via Getty Images44. Georgia • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -3.5% (-266 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 7,320 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 7,586 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% - 11th lowestAdam Goldberg Photography / IStock Via Getty Images43. Pennsylvania • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -5.2% (-1,054 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 19,106 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 20,160 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.0% - 16th highestUltima_Gaina / IStock Via Getty Images42. New Hampshire • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -5.5% (-35 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 597 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 632 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.2% - 9th lowestSean Pavone / IStock Via Getty Images41. Arizona • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -7.5% (-249 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,068 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,317 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.8% - 18th lowestBrent_1 / IStock Via Getty Images40. Nevada • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -9.3% (-325 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,152 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,477 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.2% - 2nd highestPhotoquest7 / IStock Via Getty Images39. Illinois • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -9.7% (-1,632 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 15,150 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 16,782 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.3% - 11th highestGian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ Via Getty Images38. New Jersey • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -9.9% (-1,643 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 14,882 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 16,525 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.9% - 6th highestUltima_Gaina / IStock Via Getty Images37. Louisiana • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -10.9% (-311 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,550 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,861 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.7% - 18th highestKruck20 / IStock Via Getty Images36. Nebraska • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -11.2% (-182 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,445 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,627 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.3% - the lowestDavel5957 / IStock Via Getty Images35. Ohio • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -11.8% (-2,070 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 15,412 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 17,482 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.4% - 22nd highestPawel.gaul / E+ Via Getty Images34. Delaware • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -12.0% (-95 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 695 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 790 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.2% - 12th highestDenisTangneyJr / IStock Via Getty Images33. Alabama • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -13.4% (-721 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 4,674 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 5,395 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.8% - 19th lowestKruck20 / IStock Via Getty Images32. West Virginia • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -14.1% (-301 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,841 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,142 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.9% - 21st lowestBenedek / E+ Via Getty Images31. Florida • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -14.9% (-1,510 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 8,593 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 10,103 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.2% - 25th lowestSeanPavonePhoto / IStock Via Getty Images30. Mississippi • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -15.4% (-274 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,507 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,781 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.1% - 23rd lowestTiago_Fernandez / IStock Via Getty Images29. Alaska • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -15.8% (-233 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,242 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,475 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.4% - the highestTroutnut / IStock Via Getty Images28. Arkansas • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -16.2% (-323 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,673 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,996 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% - 12th lowestSean Pavone / IStock Via Getty Images27. Massachusetts • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -17.6% (-2,027 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 9,510 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,537 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.5% - 21st highestSeanPavonePhoto / IStock Via Getty Images26. Colorado • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -17.7% (-580 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,701 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 3,281 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.1% - 13th highestKruck20 / IStock Via Getty Images25. Maryland • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -17.9% (-803 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,689 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 4,492 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.0% - 15th highestKruck20 / IStock Via Getty Images24. Oklahoma • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -18.8% (-520 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,240 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,760 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.8% - 4th lowestSean Pavone / IStock Via Getty Images23. Texas • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -20.0% (-4,773 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 19,064 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 23,837 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.3% - 10th highestBarbara Smyers / IStock Via Getty Images22. Hawaii • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -21.6% (-613 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,223 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,836 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.9% - 5th highestArt Wager / E+ Via Getty Images21. Vermont • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -21.8% (-198 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 710 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 908 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.2% - 10th lowestHaveseen / IStock Via Getty Images20. New Mexico • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -23.8% (-294 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 939 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,233 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.8% - 7th highestSean Pavone / IStock Via Getty Images19. Indiana • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -24.3% (-2,903 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 9,023 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,926 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.3% - 2nd lowestSean Pavone / IStock Via Getty Images18. Maine • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -24.4% (-392 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,216 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,608 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.0% - 14th highestUltima_Gaina / IStock Via Getty Images17. Tennessee • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -24.7% (-2,350 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 7,145 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 9,495 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.3% - 25th highestKruck20 / IStock Via Getty Images16. Utah • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -28.4% (-2,303 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,798 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 8,101 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.3% - 3rd lowestDenisTangneyJr / IStock Via Getty Images15. Wisconsin • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -29.0% (-4,191 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 10,237 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 14,428 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.0% - 7th lowestJamesBrey / E+ Via Getty Images14. Michigan • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -30.8% (-5,555 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 12,478 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 18,033 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.4% - 9th highestF11photo / IStock Via Getty Images13. Minnesota • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -30.8% (-2,928 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 6,571 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 9,499 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% - 16th lowestAndreyKrav / IStock Via Getty Images12. Connecticut • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -31.9% (-2,512 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,373 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 7,885 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 4.4% - 8th highestDenisTangneyJr / IStock Via Getty Images11. Idaho • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -35.2% (-878 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,615 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,493 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.9% - 5th lowestVkbhat / E+ Via Getty Images10. New York • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -37.3% (-13,854 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 23,255 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 37,109 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 5.0% - 3rd highestTomasSereda / IStock Via Getty Images9. Iowa • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -39.7% (-1,979 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 3,006 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 4,985 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.9% - 22nd lowestRon And Patty Thomas / E+ Via Getty Images8. Wyoming • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -40.2% (-383 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 569 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 952 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% - 13th lowestDenisTangneyJr / E+ Via Getty Images7. Oregon • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -43.1% (-4,085 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,386 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 9,471 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.6% - 20th highestSean Pavone / IStock Via Getty Images6. South Dakota • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -45.2% (-252 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 305 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 557 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.4% - 14th lowestPeeterv / IStock Via Getty Images5. Montana • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -45.7% (-939 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 1,117 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 2,056 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 1.9% - 6th lowestGary Tognoni / IStock Via Getty Images4. South Carolina • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -47.9% (-1,944 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 2,112 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 4,056 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.3% - 24th highestKruck20 / IStock Via Getty Images3. North Dakota • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -48.2% (-692 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 744 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 1,436 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.8% - 20th lowestSolange_Z / E+ Via Getty Images2. Washington • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -51.9% (-6,016 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,577 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 11,593 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 3.8% - 17th highestIrina88w / IStock Via Getty Images1. Missouri • 1-week change in initial unemployment claims: -56.4% (-7,098 fewer claims) • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 15: 5,487 • Initial unemployment claims filed week of Jan. 8: 12,585 • December 2021 unemployment rate: 2.7% - 17th lowest ALSO READ: Best Companies to Work ForF11photo / IStock Via Getty ImagesFeatured Weekly Ad