While America's jobless rate has declined by more than half from its peak of 14.8% last year, unemployment remains well above its pre-pandemic levels and food insecurity and poverty levels also are higher than before COVID-19 shut down the economy. Tennessee's jobless rate has fallen below the national average, but the Volunteer State continues to have the fourth-highest rate of housing insecurity at 11.9% and the eighth-highest rate of food insecurity at 12.6% among all states, according to a new ranking by the online financial website smartasset.com.
1. Louisiana
2. New York
3. Texas
4. Tennessee
5. West Virginia
Source: SmartAsset compilation of U.S. Census and Department of Labor data. The ranking is based upon adult rates for unemployment, poverty, housing insecurity and food insufficiency. Georgia ranked No. 11 and Alabama ranked No. 13 among the 50 states.