Coronavirus isn’t just a danger to Americans’ health. It’s also a menace to our wallets. Due to the pandemic, many states still have restrictions on businesses, though the country is gradually reopening more and more as vaccination increases. The U.S. is still struggling to recover from the unemployment caused by business closures, too. While the federal government has helped mitigate some of this damage through multiple rounds of business loans, direct stimulus payments to individuals and increased unemployment benefits, it will take a long time for state economies to fully recover. That’s especially true in states that depend heavily on the industries that were most affected by the pandemic.
Some states are better positioned economically to deal with the coronavirus pandemic than others. To find out the states whose economies are hit the most by COVID-19, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 13 unique metrics. Our data set ranges from the share of employment from small businesses to the share of workers with access to paid sick leave and the increase in unemployment insurance claims. Read on for the full ranking, additional insight from a panel of experts and a complete description of our methodology.
Main Findings
State Economies Most Exposed to Coronavirus
Overall Rank |
State |
Total Score |
Highly Affected Industries & Workforce |
Resources for Businesses to Cope Better with the Crisis |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Louisiana | 57.37 | 10 | 1 |
2 | Oklahoma | 57.10 | 3 | 6 |
3 | Hawaii | 56.75 | 2 | 10 |
4 | Ohio | 54.23 | 4 | 16 |
5 | Nevada | 53.87 | 1 | 31 |
6 | Alaska | 53.77 | 9 | 15 |
7 | West Virginia | 53.45 | 11 | 11 |
8 | Virginia | 52.65 | 7 | 23 |
9 | New Mexico | 50.10 | 18 | 9 |
10 | Wyoming | 48.78 | 6 | 36 |
11 | Kentucky | 48.62 | 31 | 2 |
12 | Mississippi | 48.59 | 30 | 3 |
13 | New York | 48.36 | 5 | 37 |
14 | Rhode Island | 47.52 | 12 | 34 |
15 | Illinois | 46.95 | 21 | 17 |
16 | Indiana | 46.55 | 27 | 8 |
17 | Montana | 46.55 | 25 | 24 |
18 | Kansas | 45.30 | 38 | 5 |
19 | Wisconsin | 45.16 | 33 | 12 |
20 | Florida | 44.97 | 22 | 28 |
21 | Maine | 44.81 | 13 | 42 |
22 | Texas | 44.30 | 15 | 38 |
23 | Michigan | 44.20 | 14 | 40 |
24 | Georgia | 44.19 | 23 | 30 |
25 | Delaware | 43.90 | 36 | 13 |
26 | Massachusetts | 43.71 | 16 | 41 |
27 | Pennsylvania | 43.61 | 28 | 25 |
28 | Tennessee | 43.58 | 29 | 21 |
29 | Alabama | 43.49 | 40 | 7 |
30 | New Jersey | 42.56 | 26 | 32 |
31 | New Hampshire | 41.97 | 34 | 26 |
32 | Connecticut | 41.40 | 17 | 45 |
33 | Arkansas | 41.37 | 50 | 4 |
34 | South Carolina | 40.71 | 41 | 20 |
35 | Missouri | 40.49 | 42 | 18 |
36 | Iowa | 39.82 | 48 | 14 |
37 | Vermont | 39.78 | 19 | 46 |
38 | North Carolina | 39.61 | 43 | 22 |
39 | California | 39.28 | 24 | 44 |
40 | Colorado | 38.44 | 8 | 50 |
41 | South Dakota | 38.01 | 45 | 27 |
42 | Idaho | 37.54 | 47 | 29 |
43 | Maryland | 37.20 | 32 | 43 |
44 | Minnesota | 36.88 | 37 | 39 |
45 | Nebraska | 36.84 | 51 | 19 |
46 | North Dakota | 36.81 | 39 | 35 |
47 | District of Columbia | 36.15 | 20 | 51 |
48 | Utah | 34.76 | 46 | 33 |
49 | Oregon | 33.34 | 35 | 49 |
50 | Arizona | 30.51 | 44 | 47 |
51 | Washington | 29.83 | 49 | 48 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the worst conditions for that metric category.
Detailed Findings
GDP Generated by Highly Affected Industries as Share of Total State GDP Ranking
Overall Rank |
State |
Total Score |
Accommodation and Food Services |
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
Retail Trade |
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction |
Educational Services |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing |
Other Services (except Government and Government Enterprises) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nevada | 63.69 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 46 | 7 | 45 |
2 | Hawaii | 61.61 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 40 | 20 | 1 | 8 |
3 | Florida | 59.04 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 37 | 24 | 3 | 4 |
4 | Vermont | 57.07 | 3 | 13 | 4 | 22 | 1 | 23 | 11 |
5 | Colorado | 54.13 | 14 | 4 | 37 | 1 | 29 | 12 | 23 |
6 | Maine | 53.18 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 49 | 9 | 11 | 18 |
7 | Montana | 51.85 | 11 | 6 | 19 | 1 | 45 | 17 | 22 |
8 | Utah | 50.88 | 34 | 27 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 2 |
9 | Tennessee | 49.03 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 31 | 17 | 31 | 3 |
10 | New Hampshire | 49.02 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 42 | 1 | 20 | 15 |
11 | Arizona | 48.57 | 9 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 18 | 8 | 37 |
12 | Louisiana | 47.94 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 1 | 25 | 40 | 32 |
13 | Pennsylvania | 46.68 | 48 | 17 | 45 | 11 | 1 | 29 | 25 |
14 | Rhode Island | 45.05 | 8 | 21 | 26 | 44 | 1 | 21 | 26 |
15 | Maryland | 43.41 | 26 | 24 | 44 | 41 | 11 | 5 | 14 |
16 | Missouri | 42.13 | 22 | 7 | 21 | 27 | 14 | 34 | 7 |
17 | New York | 41.55 | 44 | 5 | 47 | 46 | 1 | 13 | 38 |
18 | New Mexico | 40.63 | 15 | 33 | 34 | 1 | 44 | 28 | 31 |
19 | Illinois | 40.45 | 30 | 14 | 33 | 34 | 12 | 24 | 12 |
20 | West Virginia | 39.42 | 21 | 38 | 17 | 1 | 43 | 43 | 33 |
21 | Ohio | 38.57 | 40 | 12 | 25 | 13 | 28 | 37 | 28 |
22 | California | 38.57 | 27 | 8 | 46 | 23 | 21 | 4 | 47 |
23 | Massachusetts | 37.96 | 25 | 20 | 48 | 48 | 1 | 15 | 42 |
24 | Connecticut | 37.84 | 43 | 26 | 39 | 43 | 1 | 9 | 40 |
25 | South Carolina | 37.04 | 6 | 37 | 13 | 36 | 34 | 25 | 9 |
26 | Mississippi | 36.95 | 7 | 49 | 3 | 19 | 35 | 42 | 10 |
27 | District of Columbia | 36.17 | 18 | 25 | 51 | 51 | 1 | 51 | 1 |
28 | New Jersey | 35.09 | 49 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 15 | 10 | 39 |
29 | Wyoming | 34.83 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 1 | 51 | 36 | 50 |
30 | Oklahoma | 34.59 | 31 | 34 | 30 | 1 | 47 | 49 | 35 |
31 | Idaho | 34.48 | 19 | 30 | 5 | 30 | 30 | 22 | 41 |
32 | Oregon | 34.13 | 20 | 31 | 40 | 38 | 31 | 6 | 27 |
33 | Texas | 33.93 | 36 | 45 | 43 | 1 | 36 | 47 | 43 |
34 | Virginia | 33.87 | 37 | 39 | 42 | 28 | 26 | 14 | 5 |
35 | North Carolina | 33.60 | 28 | 28 | 32 | 39 | 13 | 32 | 29 |
36 | Indiana | 33.43 | 33 | 10 | 29 | 26 | 22 | 45 | 19 |
37 | Minnesota | 33.11 | 42 | 19 | 31 | 18 | 23 | 35 | 30 |
38 | Arkansas | 33.07 | 24 | 41 | 9 | 16 | 39 | 38 | 13 |
39 | Wisconsin | 32.39 | 41 | 29 | 27 | 24 | 19 | 30 | 17 |
40 | Georgia | 31.94 | 29 | 36 | 28 | 33 | 16 | 18 | 44 |
41 | Michigan | 30.58 | 38 | 40 | 20 | 25 | 33 | 27 | 16 |
42 | Washington | 29.21 | 32 | 43 | 1 | 47 | 48 | 19 | 46 |
43 | Alabama | 28.90 | 35 | 51 | 14 | 17 | 42 | 39 | 6 |
44 | Kentucky | 28.89 | 23 | 35 | 23 | 20 | 37 | 41 | 21 |
45 | North Dakota | 28.22 | 46 | 50 | 38 | 1 | 49 | 33 | 48 |
46 | South Dakota | 27.42 | 16 | 32 | 15 | 29 | 38 | 50 | 24 |
47 | Kansas | 26.97 | 47 | 46 | 24 | 21 | 40 | 26 | 20 |
48 | Alaska | 24.73 | 39 | 48 | 50 | 1 | 50 | 48 | 49 |
49 | Iowa | 23.22 | 51 | 42 | 36 | 32 | 27 | 44 | 34 |
50 | Delaware | 22.21 | 45 | 44 | 49 | 50 | 41 | 2 | 51 |
51 | Nebraska | 20.14 | 50 | 47 | 41 | 35 | 32 | 46 | 36 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the worst conditions for that metric category.
Share of Employment from Highly Affected Industries Ranking
Overall Rank |
State |
Total Score |
Accommodation and Food Services |
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation |
Advertising, Public Relations and Related Services |
Retail Trade |
Transportation |
Oil and Gas Extraction |
Educational Services |
Health Care and Social Assistance |
Real Estate, Rental and Leasing |
Employment Services |
Other Services, Except Public Administration |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Florida | 62.38 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 50 | 33 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
2 | Colorado | 61.21 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 18 | 1 | 36 | 26 | 11 | 32 | 20 |
3 | New York | 58.67 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 46 | 1 | 25 | 3 | 38 | 3 | 42 | 6 |
4 | Utah | 58.04 | 42 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 47 | 7 | 17 | 24 |
5 | Hawaii | 56.84 | 1 | 20 | 40 | 18 | 1 | 27 | 45 | 19 | 1 | 34 | 17 |
6 | Connecticut | 55.30 | 45 | 3 | 6 | 38 | 20 | 17 | 5 | 18 | 20 | 30 | 14 |
7 | New Jersey | 54.97 | 48 | 16 | 1 | 42 | 5 | 27 | 12 | 32 | 15 | 2 | 8 |
8 | Nevada | 54.58 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 27 | 1 | 27 | 51 | 50 | 4 | 45 | 2 |
9 | Illinois | 53.66 | 31 | 17 | 4 | 33 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 37 | 22 | 5 | 15 |
10 | Texas | 53.53 | 17 | 47 | 22 | 24 | 15 | 1 | 23 | 44 | 12 | 26 | 5 |
11 | New Mexico | 53.11 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 22 | 32 | 1 | 15 | 23 | 32 | 43 | 4 |
12 | Louisiana | 51.37 | 9 | 11 | 37 | 7 | 30 | 1 | 21 | 29 | 16 | 46 | 26 |
13 | Arizona | 51.04 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 12 | 18 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 29 | 19 |
14 | Massachusetts | 48.99 | 40 | 23 | 9 | 47 | 10 | 22 | 2 | 28 | 26 | 15 | 18 |
15 | Washington | 48.76 | 33 | 14 | 16 | 34 | 11 | 24 | 48 | 14 | 9 | 24 | 21 |
16 | Pennsylvania | 48.35 | 41 | 31 | 17 | 41 | 14 | 14 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 19 | 10 |
17 | Georgia | 48.03 | 15 | 41 | 15 | 28 | 6 | 27 | 31 | 46 | 17 | 4 | 11 |
18 | Oklahoma | 47.89 | 28 | 10 | 39 | 6 | 28 | 1 | 26 | 25 | 46 | 39 | 22 |
19 | Oregon | 47.59 | 12 | 22 | 11 | 14 | 24 | 27 | 41 | 12 | 6 | 23 | 29 |
20 | Mississippi | 46.15 | 19 | 18 | 46 | 11 | 50 | 1 | 17 | 4 | 36 | 41 | 37 |
21 | California | 45.80 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 40 | 13 | 19 | 46 | 40 | 13 | 12 | 51 |
22 | Montana | 45.49 | 6 | 35 | 38 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 40 | 20 | 39 | 44 | 47 |
23 | North Dakota | 45.32 | 44 | 26 | 27 | 12 | 43 | 1 | 30 | 5 | 51 | 18 | 34 |
24 | Maryland | 44.65 | 39 | 29 | 14 | 48 | 17 | 27 | 10 | 48 | 10 | 20 | 7 |
25 | Virginia | 44.42 | 23 | 32 | 23 | 35 | 25 | 27 | 14 | 30 | 18 | 25 | 3 |
26 | Kansas | 43.79 | 29 | 44 | 18 | 36 | 44 | 1 | 19 | 22 | 30 | 33 | 36 |
27 | Rhode Island | 43.78 | 11 | 9 | 45 | 44 | 21 | 27 | 4 | 16 | 41 | 14 | 31 |
28 | North Carolina | 43.75 | 7 | 28 | 31 | 23 | 29 | 27 | 37 | 31 | 19 | 6 | 9 |
29 | Alaska | 43.45 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 42 | 10 | 49 |
30 | Minnesota | 43.24 | 47 | 21 | 7 | 20 | 16 | 27 | 22 | 8 | 44 | 35 | 33 |
31 | Delaware | 42.55 | 38 | 30 | 47 | 37 | 19 | 27 | 35 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 42 |
32 | Michigan | 41.87 | 13 | 27 | 10 | 29 | 31 | 23 | 47 | 41 | 27 | 22 | 13 |
33 | Arkansas | 39.64 | 27 | 51 | 34 | 1 | 51 | 15 | 29 | 6 | 40 | 31 | 30 |
34 | South Carolina | 39.53 | 4 | 39 | 33 | 21 | 42 | 27 | 34 | 49 | 21 | 9 | 12 |
35 | West Virginia | 39.51 | 22 | 50 | 43 | 3 | 46 | 1 | 9 | 21 | 50 | 40 | 43 |
36 | Ohio | 38.91 | 26 | 37 | 29 | 16 | 37 | 16 | 43 | 42 | 34 | 13 | 16 |
37 | Wisconsin | 38.87 | 36 | 34 | 30 | 26 | 34 | 27 | 39 | 13 | 33 | 3 | 25 |
38 | New Hampshire | 38.71 | 43 | 33 | 44 | 8 | 22 | 27 | 20 | 9 | 31 | 36 | 32 |
39 | Tennessee | 38.40 | 14 | 43 | 21 | 15 | 36 | 27 | 49 | 27 | 25 | 7 | 35 |
40 | Vermont | 38.31 | 37 | 12 | 47 | 32 | 39 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 50 | 50 |
41 | Missouri | 37.97 | 32 | 19 | 28 | 17 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 45 | 28 | 37 | 27 |
42 | District of Columbia | 36.89 | 46 | 4 | 1 | 51 | 23 | 27 | 18 | 51 | 14 | 38 | 46 |
43 | Indiana | 35.17 | 25 | 40 | 32 | 19 | 41 | 27 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 21 | 23 |
44 | Kentucky | 34.74 | 30 | 46 | 41 | 9 | 33 | 27 | 16 | 15 | 38 | 28 | 41 |
45 | Wyoming | 34.64 | 21 | 45 | 47 | 49 | 40 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 49 | 49 | 48 |
46 | Idaho | 34.33 | 10 | 25 | 36 | 4 | 35 | 27 | 44 | 36 | 23 | 47 | 45 |
47 | Alabama | 33.51 | 20 | 48 | 35 | 13 | 45 | 20 | 33 | 35 | 37 | 11 | 40 |
48 | Nebraska | 32.93 | 51 | 36 | 19 | 43 | 48 | 27 | 13 | 10 | 45 | 16 | 28 |
49 | Iowa | 30.72 | 49 | 38 | 26 | 39 | 47 | 27 | 8 | 17 | 47 | 27 | 44 |
50 | Maine | 30.49 | 35 | 42 | 25 | 30 | 38 | 27 | 6 | 43 | 48 | 48 | 38 |
51 | South Dakota | 27.68 | 24 | 24 | 47 | 45 | 49 | 27 | 28 | 3 | 43 | 51 | 39 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the worst conditions for that metric category.
Ask the Experts
As Americans worry about their financial future due to the economic damage from the coronavirus, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts to offer guidance.
- What are the best ways for local authorities to offer support to struggling businesses and the unemployed population?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the hardest-hit industries after reopening?
- As businesses reassess their ability to operate in an era of continued social distancing, what will be the biggest changes of the post-COVID-19 economic landscape?
- How could the fact that vaccine rollout is slower than expected affect unemployment?
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to identify the states whose economies are hit the most by coronavirus, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, “Highly Affected Industries & Workforce” and “Resources for Businesses to Cope Better with the Crisis.”
We evaluated those dimensions using 13 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest value.
We then determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Highly Affected Industries & Workforce – Total Points: 70
- GDP Generated by Highly Affected Industries as Share of Total State GDP: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: This composite metric includes:- Accommodation and Food Services: Double Weight
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation: Double Weight
- Retail Trade: Full Weight
- Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: Full Weight
- Educational Services: Half Weight
- Real Estate, Rental and Leasing: Full Weight
- Other Services, Except Government and Government Enterprises: Full Weight
- Share of Employment from Highly Affected Industries: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
Note: This composite metric includes:- Accommodation and Food Services: Double Weight
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation: Double Weight
- Advertising, Public Relations and Related Services: Full Weight
- Retail Trade: Full Weight
- Transportation: Double Weight
- Oil and Gas Extraction: Full Weight
- Educational Services: Half Weight
- Health Care and Social Assistance: Full Weight
- Real Estate, Rental and Leasing: Full Weight
- Employment Services: Full Weight
- Other Services, Except Public Administration: Full Weight
- WalletHub’s "States Whose Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest" Score: Triple Weight (~15.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “States Whose Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest” ranking. - Share of Employment from Small Businesses: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Percent Change in All Consumer Spending: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: “Consumer Spending” refers to average consumer credit and debit card spending for the following subcategories: grocery, transportation, apparel & general merchandise, health care, entertainment & recreation, restaurants & hotels. - Percent Change in Number of Small Businesses Open: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
- Change in GDP (2020 vs 2019): Triple Weight (~15.00 Points)
Resources for Businesses to Cope Better with the Crisis – Total Points: 30
- States Prepared for Digital Economy Ranking: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: The Digital States Survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Government, evaluates states’ use of technology to improve service delivery, increase capacity, streamline operations and reach policy goals. It assigns each state a grade based on quantifiable results. - Share of Workers Working from Home: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Work from Home Infrastructure: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This composite metric measures both the average internet speed and the access to communication infrastructure by state. - Share of Workers with Access to Paid Sick Leave: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
Note: Even with paid-time-off policies in place, workers may not be able, or may find it hard, to access medical care during the Coronavirus pandemic. - State Rainy Day Funds as Share of State Expenditures: Double Weight (~6.67 Points)
- State Fiscal Condition Index: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the George Mason University Mercatus Center’s state fiscal rankings, particularly the State Fiscal Condition Index, which refers to the sum of cash, budget, long-run, service-level and trust-fund solvency indices for each state.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Small Business Administration, Raj Chetty, John N. Friedman, Nathaniel Hendren, Michael Stepner, and the Opportunity Insights Team, Government Technology, BroadbandNow, National Association of State Budget Officers Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Kaiser Family Foundation and WalletHub research.
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