The April unemployment numbers provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that states that went for former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election are experiencing some of the country’s lowest jobless rates.
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro started a debate on the subject on Friday when he pointed out that 15 of the top 20 states for jobs all went for Trump.
“Of the best 20 states in terms of unemployment rate, 15 went for Trump. … This is not a coincidence,” Shapiro tweeted.
Of the best 20 states in terms of unemployment rate, 15 went for Trump. Of the worst 20 states (and DC) in terms of unemployment rate, 15 went for Biden. This is not a coincidence. https://t.co/PeAcmPaY8T
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 4, 2021
Some Twitter users attempted to explain away or rationalize the numbers.
You're correct. But the causation is geographical (urban vs. rural) not political. You are smart enought to know this.
— Mike (@Mike12108735) June 4, 2021
So brilliant Ben doesn't realize there's a huge difference between a state with millions and a state with less than a million. His parents must be so proud. 😳🙄
— twyla do (@twylado) June 4, 2021
Those 15 states that went for trump have residents that are too stupid to demand a higher wage. The 15 that went for Biden have intelligent residents that know what they are worth.
— Riivrr (@Riivrr) June 4, 2021
According to the BLS, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah all tied for the lowest unemployment rate at 2.8 percent.
New Hampshire went for President Joe Biden, while the other three went for Trump last November. Vermont, which went blue, came in a close fifth with an unemployment rate of 2.9 percent.
Of the remaining top 20 states, all went red except for Wisconsin, Minnesota and Georgia.
Idaho, Kansas, Alabama, Montana, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky went for Trump.
Florida came in at No. 22 with an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent.
The trend really becomes apparent at the bottom of the list.
Of the states with the highest unemployment — including the District of Columbia — 12 of 15 went for Biden in November.
Mississippi, Alaska, Louisiana and Texas were the only states won by Trump that finished in the bottom 20.
Of the ten states with the highest unemployment rate, only Louisiana went for Trump. Hawaii came in last place with an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent.
The average jobless rate among red states was 4.6 percent. The average among blue states was 6.2.