These States Made History With Record Unemployment Amid the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought initial unemployment claims to 38.6 million in just nine weeks, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor — shattering historic highs across the nation. In many states, claims skyrocketed practically overnight, increasing from historic lows in February and March to highs not experienced in decades. Here's a state-by-state look at April unemployment rates compared with previous highs. All but seven states have set new records.

Related: 18 Critical Steps to Take When You've Been Laid Off

April unemployment rate: 12.9%
Historic high: 15.5%, December 1982
Historic low: 2.7%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 12.9% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.2%, August 1986
Historic low: 5.2%, March 2020

April unemployment rate: 12.6% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.5%, December 1982
Historic low: 3.6%, July 2007

April unemployment rate: 10.2%
Historic high: 10.3%, February 1983
Historic low: 3.5%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 15.5% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 12.3%, November 2010
Historic low: 3.9%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 11.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 8.9%, December 2010
Historic low: 2.5%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 7.9%
Historic high: 9.8%, March 1976
Historic low: 2.2%, October 2000

April unemployment rate: 14.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 9.8%, December 1976
Historic low: 3%, June 1988

April unemployment rate: 11.1%
Historic high: 11.3%, September 1983
Historic low: 4.8%, September 1989

April unemployment rate: 12.9% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.3%, January 2010
Historic low: 2.8%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 11.9% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 10.6%, December 2010
Historic low: 3.1%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 22.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 10.2%, March 1976
Historic low: 2.2%, November 2017

April unemployment rate: 11.5% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 10.2%, December 1982
Historic low: 2.5%, March 2020

April unemployment rate: 16.4% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 13.1%, February 1983
Historic low: 3.4%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 16.9% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 12.6%, December 1982
Historic low: 2.9%, October 2000

April unemployment rate: 10.2% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 9.1%, January 1983
Historic low: 2.4%, March 2000

April unemployment rate: 11.2% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 7.3%, August 2009
Historic low: 2.8%, March 2020

April unemployment rate: 15.4% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 12%, March 1983
Historic low: 4.1%, August 2000

April unemployment rate: 14.5% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 13.1%, November 1986
Historic low: 4.1%, October 2007

April unemployment rate: 10.6% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 9%, January 1977
Historic low: 2.9%, September 2019

April unemployment rate: 9.9% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 8.5%, March 1982
Historic low: 3.3%, March 2020

April unemployment rate: 15.1% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 10.3%, March 1976
Historic low: 2.6%, October 2000

April unemployment rate: 22.7% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 16.5%, December 1982
Historic low: 3.2%, March 2000

April unemployment rate: 8.1%
Historic high: 8.9%, January 1983
Historic low: 2.5%, February 1999

April unemployment rate: 15.4% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 12.8%, April 1983
Historic low: 4.7%, August 2018

April unemployment rate: 9.7%
Historic high: 10.6%, March 1983
Historic low: 3%, October 2018

April unemployment rate: 11.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 8.8%, May 1983
Historic low: 2.9%, February 2007

April unemployment rate: 8.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 6.3%, February 1983
Historic low: 2.3 %, October 1990

April unemployment levels: 28.2% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 13.7%, November 2010
Historic low: 3.6%, February 2020

April unemployment levels: 16.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 7.4%, July 1992
Historic low: 2.2%, March 1988

April unemployment levels: 15.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 10.7%, January 1977
Historic low: 3.3%, July 2019

April unemployment level: 11.3% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 10.5%, March 1983
Historic low: 3.7%, September 2007

April unemployment rate: 14.5% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 10.3%, February 1976
Historic low: 3.7%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 12.2% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.4%, March 2010
Historic low: 3%, April 1999

April unemployment rate: 8.5% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 6.2%, February 1983
Historic low: 2.0%, March 2020

April unemployment rate: 16.8% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 14%, January 1983
Historic low: 3.7%, February 2001

April unemployment rate: 13.7% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 8.9%, April 1983
Historic low: 2.9%, March 2020

April unemployment rate: 14.2% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.9%, May 2009
Historic low: 3.3%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 15.1% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 12.7%, February 1983
Historic low: 4%, May 2000

April unemployment rate: 17% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.3%, August 2010
Historic low: 3%, July 1988

April unemployment rate: 12.1% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.8%, January 1983
Historic low: 2.4%, January 2020

April unemployment rate: 10.2% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 5.9%, January 1983
Historic low: 2.4%, July 2000

April unemployment rate: 14.7% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 12.9%, January 1983
Historic low: 3.3%, March 2020

April unemployment rate: 12.8% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 9.2%, November 1986
Historic low: 3.4%, June 2019

April unemployment rate: 9.7% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 9.6%, March 1983
Historic low: 2.4%, December 2019

April unemployment rate: 15.6% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 8.7%, April 1976
Historic low: 2.3%, May 2019

April unemployment rate: 10.6% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 7.9%, December 1982
Historic low: 2.1%, November 2000

April unemployment rate: 15.4% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 12.2%, November 1982
Historic low: 3.8%, February 2020

April unemployment rate: 15.2%
Historic high: 18.8%, February 1983
Historic low: 4%, July 2008

April unemployment rate: 14.1% *new historic high
Prior historic high: 11.9%, January 1983
Historic low: 3%, December 2018

April unemployment rate: 9.2%
Historic high: 9.4%, December 1986
Historic low: 2.5%, May 1979