GITNUXREPORT 2026

Native American Employment Statistics

Native American employment faces persistently high unemployment and lower wages nationwide.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In 2022, the employment-population ratio for AIAN aged 16+ was 55.4%, below the national 60.1%.

Statistic 2

AIAN employment rate on reservations was 43.7% in 2021.

Statistic 3

AIAN women employment rate was 52.3% in 2022.

Statistic 4

In South Dakota, AIAN employment rate was 48.2% in 2020.

Statistic 5

AIAN aged 25-54 prime working age employment 65.1% in 2019.

Statistic 6

Montana AIAN employment rate 51.6% in 2018.

Statistic 7

Post-COVID recovery saw AIAN employment rise 2.4% to 57.8% in 2022.

Statistic 8

AIAN veterans employment rate 54.3% in 2021.

Statistic 9

New Mexico AIAN employment 49.7% in 2022.

Statistic 10

High school graduates AIAN employment 58.9% in 2022.

Statistic 11

Alaska AIAN employment rate 53.4% in 2021.

Statistic 12

Rural AIAN employment 47.2% in 2019.

Statistic 13

Navajo Nation employment rate 38.5% in 2020.

Statistic 14

Oklahoma AIAN employment 56.1% in 2022.

Statistic 15

Bachelor's degree holders AIAN employment 72.4% in 2022.

Statistic 16

Arizona AIAN employment 50.8% in 2021.

Statistic 17

AIAN full-time employment share 62.7% in 2022.

Statistic 18

Washington AIAN employment 54.9% in 2020.

Statistic 19

AIAN self-employment rate contributed to 8.3% employment in 2021.

Statistic 20

North Dakota AIAN employment 59.2% in 2022.

Statistic 21

AIAN multiple jobholders 6.1% of employed in 2022.

Statistic 22

2017 baseline AIAN employment-population 56.8%.

Statistic 23

California AIAN employment 52.7% in 2021.

Statistic 24

AIAN contingent workforce participation 11.2% in 2022.

Statistic 25

Michigan AIAN employment 51.3% in 2020.

Statistic 26

Tourism industry AIAN employment recovery to 45% capacity.

Statistic 27

AIAN with disabilities employment 42.6% in 2021.

Statistic 28

Wyoming AIAN employment 50.1% in 2022.

Statistic 29

Urban AIAN youth employment 48.5% in 2019.

Statistic 30

AIAN in construction industry 14.2% of AIAN employed in 2022.

Statistic 31

AIAN service occupations 22.1% employment share in 2022.

Statistic 32

Reservation economies 28% in government jobs in 2021.

Statistic 33

AIAN men in natural resources/mining 5.3% in 2022.

Statistic 34

South Dakota AIAN 19% in manufacturing.

Statistic 35

AIAN education sector 12.4% of workforce in 2019.

Statistic 36

Montana AIAN agriculture/forestry 8.7% in 2018.

Statistic 37

Healthcare/social assistance AIAN 18.6% in 2020.

Statistic 38

AIAN veterans in professional occupations 24.3%.

Statistic 39

New Mexico AIAN retail trade 15.2% in 2022.

Statistic 40

AIAN transportation 6.8% employment in 2022.

Statistic 41

Alaska AIAN fishing industry 9.1% in 2021.

Statistic 42

Rural AIAN construction 16.4% in 2019.

Statistic 43

Navajo gaming industry employs 12,000 AIAN.

Statistic 44

Oklahoma AIAN energy sector 7.5% in 2022.

Statistic 45

AIAN management/professional 28.9% in 2022.

Statistic 46

Arizona AIAN tourism 11.3% in 2021.

Statistic 47

AIAN sales/office occupations 21.7% share.

Statistic 48

Washington AIAN tech sector 4.2% penetration in 2020.

Statistic 49

AIAN production occupations 9.8% in 2021.

Statistic 50

North Dakota AIAN oil/gas 10.6% in 2022.

Statistic 51

AIAN food service 14.5% of women employed.

Statistic 52

2017 AIAN industry distribution similar to 2022.

Statistic 53

California AIAN entertainment 6.7% in 2021.

Statistic 54

AIAN protective services 5.1% occupation share.

Statistic 55

Michigan AIAN auto manufacturing 8.4% in 2020.

Statistic 56

Wyoming AIAN ranching 7.2% in 2022.

Statistic 57

Urban AIAN finance/insurance 9.3% in 2019.

Statistic 58

AIAN labor force participation rate for ages 16+ was 60.2% in 2022, compared to 62.2% nationally.

Statistic 59

Reservation AIAN LFPR averaged 50.8% in 2021.

Statistic 60

AIAN men LFPR 64.7% in 2022.

Statistic 61

South Dakota AIAN LFPR 54.3% in 2020.

Statistic 62

AIAN youth (16-24) LFPR 52.1% in 2019.

Statistic 63

Montana AIAN LFPR 57.9% in 2018.

Statistic 64

COVID impact reduced AIAN LFPR by 4.2% to 57.6% in 2020.

Statistic 65

AIAN veterans LFPR 61.4% in 2021.

Statistic 66

New Mexico AIAN LFPR 55.2% in 2022.

Statistic 67

AIAN without high school LFPR 48.9% in 2022.

Statistic 68

Alaska AIAN LFPR 58.7% in 2021.

Statistic 69

Rural AIAN LFPR 51.3% in 2019.

Statistic 70

Navajo Nation LFPR 45.2% in 2020.

Statistic 71

Oklahoma AIAN LFPR 60.8% in 2022.

Statistic 72

College grads AIAN LFPR 75.6% in 2022.

Statistic 73

Arizona AIAN LFPR 54.1% in 2021.

Statistic 74

AIAN prime age (25-54) LFPR 68.4% in 2022.

Statistic 75

Washington AIAN LFPR 59.3% in 2020.

Statistic 76

Not in labor force AIAN share 39.8% in 2021.

Statistic 77

North Dakota AIAN LFPR 62.5% in 2022.

Statistic 78

AIAN women LFPR 56.4% in 2022.

Statistic 79

Pre-2017 AIAN LFPR 61.2%.

Statistic 80

California AIAN LFPR 57.1% in 2021.

Statistic 81

AIAN disability LFPR 49.2% in 2021.

Statistic 82

Michigan AIAN LFPR 55.9% in 2020.

Statistic 83

Wyoming AIAN LFPR 56.7% in 2022.

Statistic 84

Urban AIAN LFPR 61.8% in 2019.

Statistic 85

In 2022, the unemployment rate for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) workers aged 16 years and over was 6.6%, significantly higher than the 3.6% national average.

Statistic 86

On Native American reservations, the unemployment rate averaged 15.2% in 2021, compared to 5.3% off-reservation.

Statistic 87

AIAN men had an unemployment rate of 7.1% in 2022, while AIAN women experienced 6.1%.

Statistic 88

In South Dakota, the unemployment rate for AIAN residents was 10.8% in 2020.

Statistic 89

Youth unemployment (16-24) among AIAN was 17.4% in 2019.

Statistic 90

In 2018, AIAN unemployment in Montana reached 9.5%.

Statistic 91

During COVID-19 peak in 2020, AIAN unemployment spiked to 18.3% nationally.

Statistic 92

AIAN veterans unemployment rate was 8.2% in 2021.

Statistic 93

In New Mexico, AIAN unemployment was 12.1% in 2022.

Statistic 94

AIAN with less than high school diploma had 14.7% unemployment in 2022.

Statistic 95

In Alaska, AIAN unemployment rate stood at 11.3% in 2021.

Statistic 96

AIAN in rural areas had 13.6% unemployment in 2019.

Statistic 97

Tribal unemployment on Navajo Nation was 42% in 2020.

Statistic 98

AIAN women in Oklahoma faced 9.2% unemployment in 2022.

Statistic 99

College-educated AIAN unemployment was 4.3% in 2022.

Statistic 100

In Arizona, AIAN unemployment averaged 10.4% in 2021.

Statistic 101

Long-term unemployment (>27 weeks) for AIAN was 25.1% of total unemployed in 2022.

Statistic 102

AIAN in Washington state had 8.7% unemployment in 2020.

Statistic 103

Discouraged workers among AIAN numbered 45,000 in 2021.

Statistic 104

AIAN unemployment in North Dakota was 7.9% in 2022.

Statistic 105

Part-time for economic reasons among AIAN was 12.4% in 2022.

Statistic 106

In 2017, AIAN unemployment rate was 9.1% pre-pandemic baseline.

Statistic 107

AIAN in California had 9.8% unemployment in 2021.

Statistic 108

Underemployment rate (U-6) for AIAN estimated at 15.2% in 2022.

Statistic 109

AIAN unemployment in Michigan was 11.5% in 2020.

Statistic 110

Seasonal unemployment peaks for AIAN in tourism-dependent tribes at 20%.

Statistic 111

AIAN with disabilities unemployment 14.8% in 2021.

Statistic 112

In Wyoming, AIAN unemployment was 10.2% in 2022.

Statistic 113

AIAN youth in urban areas unemployment 16.8% in 2019.

Statistic 114

Overall AIAN unemployment duration averaged 22.4 weeks in 2022.

Statistic 115

AIAN median weekly earnings were $912 in 2022, 82% of the national $1,118 median.

Statistic 116

AIAN full-time workers annual median income $45,600 in 2021.

Statistic 117

AIAN men median earnings $48,200 vs women $41,800 in 2022.

Statistic 118

South Dakota AIAN median wage $38,500 in 2020.

Statistic 119

AIAN high school grads median earnings $42,100 in 2022.

Statistic 120

Montana AIAN average hourly wage $21.40 in 2018.

Statistic 121

Reservation AIAN household median income $39,400 in 2021.

Statistic 122

AIAN veterans median earnings $52,300 in 2021.

Statistic 123

New Mexico AIAN median wage $40,200 in 2022.

Statistic 124

AIAN bachelor's holders median $68,700 in 2022.

Statistic 125

Alaska AIAN median household income $62,100 in 2021.

Statistic 126

Rural AIAN earnings 15% below urban AIAN in 2019.

Statistic 127

Navajo workers median wage $32,800 in 2020.

Statistic 128

Oklahoma AIAN median earnings $44,900 in 2022.

Statistic 129

AIAN in management median $85,400 in 2022.

Statistic 130

Arizona AIAN household income median $48,700 in 2021.

Statistic 131

AIAN overtime pay share 4.2% of earnings in 2022.

Statistic 132

Washington AIAN average wage $46,200 in 2020.

Statistic 133

AIAN family poverty rate tied to earnings 25.4% in 2021.

Statistic 134

North Dakota AIAN median $51,800 in 2022.

Statistic 135

AIAN women in service jobs earnings $37,600 median.

Statistic 136

2017 AIAN median weekly $824.

Statistic 137

California AIAN median wage $49,300 in 2021.

Statistic 138

AIAN disability adjusted earnings 72% of non-disabled.

Statistic 139

Michigan AIAN median $43,100 in 2020.

Statistic 140

Wyoming AIAN hourly wage avg $23.10 in 2022.

Statistic 141

Urban AIAN median income $55,200 in 2019.

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While the national unemployment rate has hit historic lows, American Indian and Alaska Native communities face a persistent and staggering economic gap, with unemployment rates more than double the national average in many states and soaring past 40% on some reservations.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the unemployment rate for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) workers aged 16 years and over was 6.6%, significantly higher than the 3.6% national average.
On Native American reservations, the unemployment rate averaged 15.2% in 2021, compared to 5.3% off-reservation.
AIAN men had an unemployment rate of 7.1% in 2022, while AIAN women experienced 6.1%.
In 2022, the employment-population ratio for AIAN aged 16+ was 55.4%, below the national 60.1%.
AIAN employment rate on reservations was 43.7% in 2021.
AIAN women employment rate was 52.3% in 2022.
AIAN labor force participation rate for ages 16+ was 60.2% in 2022, compared to 62.2% nationally.
Reservation AIAN LFPR averaged 50.8% in 2021.
AIAN men LFPR 64.7% in 2022.
AIAN median weekly earnings were $912 in 2022, 82% of the national $1,118 median.
AIAN full-time workers annual median income $45,600 in 2021.
AIAN men median earnings $48,200 vs women $41,800 in 2022.
AIAN in construction industry 14.2% of AIAN employed in 2022.
AIAN service occupations 22.1% employment share in 2022.
Reservation economies 28% in government jobs in 2021.

Native American employment faces persistently high unemployment and lower wages nationwide.

Employment Rates

In 2022, the employment-population ratio for AIAN aged 16+ was 55.4%, below the national 60.1%.
AIAN employment rate on reservations was 43.7% in 2021.
AIAN women employment rate was 52.3% in 2022.
In South Dakota, AIAN employment rate was 48.2% in 2020.
AIAN aged 25-54 prime working age employment 65.1% in 2019.
Montana AIAN employment rate 51.6% in 2018.
Post-COVID recovery saw AIAN employment rise 2.4% to 57.8% in 2022.
AIAN veterans employment rate 54.3% in 2021.
New Mexico AIAN employment 49.7% in 2022.
High school graduates AIAN employment 58.9% in 2022.
Alaska AIAN employment rate 53.4% in 2021.
Rural AIAN employment 47.2% in 2019.
Navajo Nation employment rate 38.5% in 2020.
Oklahoma AIAN employment 56.1% in 2022.
Bachelor's degree holders AIAN employment 72.4% in 2022.
Arizona AIAN employment 50.8% in 2021.
AIAN full-time employment share 62.7% in 2022.
Washington AIAN employment 54.9% in 2020.
AIAN self-employment rate contributed to 8.3% employment in 2021.
North Dakota AIAN employment 59.2% in 2022.
AIAN multiple jobholders 6.1% of employed in 2022.
2017 baseline AIAN employment-population 56.8%.
California AIAN employment 52.7% in 2021.
AIAN contingent workforce participation 11.2% in 2022.
Michigan AIAN employment 51.3% in 2020.
Tourism industry AIAN employment recovery to 45% capacity.
AIAN with disabilities employment 42.6% in 2021.
Wyoming AIAN employment 50.1% in 2022.
Urban AIAN youth employment 48.5% in 2019.

Employment Rates Interpretation

While the data paints a portrait of resilient recovery and hard-won gains through education, it's a damning ledger of persistent exclusion, proving that for Native American employment, the system is still a rigged game where the house—geography, history, and policy—almost always wins.

Industry and Occupation

AIAN in construction industry 14.2% of AIAN employed in 2022.
AIAN service occupations 22.1% employment share in 2022.
Reservation economies 28% in government jobs in 2021.
AIAN men in natural resources/mining 5.3% in 2022.
South Dakota AIAN 19% in manufacturing.
AIAN education sector 12.4% of workforce in 2019.
Montana AIAN agriculture/forestry 8.7% in 2018.
Healthcare/social assistance AIAN 18.6% in 2020.
AIAN veterans in professional occupations 24.3%.
New Mexico AIAN retail trade 15.2% in 2022.
AIAN transportation 6.8% employment in 2022.
Alaska AIAN fishing industry 9.1% in 2021.
Rural AIAN construction 16.4% in 2019.
Navajo gaming industry employs 12,000 AIAN.
Oklahoma AIAN energy sector 7.5% in 2022.
AIAN management/professional 28.9% in 2022.
Arizona AIAN tourism 11.3% in 2021.
AIAN sales/office occupations 21.7% share.
Washington AIAN tech sector 4.2% penetration in 2020.
AIAN production occupations 9.8% in 2021.
North Dakota AIAN oil/gas 10.6% in 2022.
AIAN food service 14.5% of women employed.
2017 AIAN industry distribution similar to 2022.
California AIAN entertainment 6.7% in 2021.
AIAN protective services 5.1% occupation share.
Michigan AIAN auto manufacturing 8.4% in 2020.
Wyoming AIAN ranching 7.2% in 2022.
Urban AIAN finance/insurance 9.3% in 2019.

Industry and Occupation Interpretation

The statistics paint a resilient, adaptive picture of Native American employment, where a strong foundation in construction and service jobs supports a growing professional class, all while maintaining deep ties to traditional sectors from fisheries to gaming, proving that economic identity is both multifaceted and firmly rooted.

Labor Force Participation

AIAN labor force participation rate for ages 16+ was 60.2% in 2022, compared to 62.2% nationally.
Reservation AIAN LFPR averaged 50.8% in 2021.
AIAN men LFPR 64.7% in 2022.
South Dakota AIAN LFPR 54.3% in 2020.
AIAN youth (16-24) LFPR 52.1% in 2019.
Montana AIAN LFPR 57.9% in 2018.
COVID impact reduced AIAN LFPR by 4.2% to 57.6% in 2020.
AIAN veterans LFPR 61.4% in 2021.
New Mexico AIAN LFPR 55.2% in 2022.
AIAN without high school LFPR 48.9% in 2022.
Alaska AIAN LFPR 58.7% in 2021.
Rural AIAN LFPR 51.3% in 2019.
Navajo Nation LFPR 45.2% in 2020.
Oklahoma AIAN LFPR 60.8% in 2022.
College grads AIAN LFPR 75.6% in 2022.
Arizona AIAN LFPR 54.1% in 2021.
AIAN prime age (25-54) LFPR 68.4% in 2022.
Washington AIAN LFPR 59.3% in 2020.
Not in labor force AIAN share 39.8% in 2021.
North Dakota AIAN LFPR 62.5% in 2022.
AIAN women LFPR 56.4% in 2022.
Pre-2017 AIAN LFPR 61.2%.
California AIAN LFPR 57.1% in 2021.
AIAN disability LFPR 49.2% in 2021.
Michigan AIAN LFPR 55.9% in 2020.
Wyoming AIAN LFPR 56.7% in 2022.
Urban AIAN LFPR 61.8% in 2019.

Labor Force Participation Interpretation

The statistics paint a stark portrait: while education and urban settings offer a clear path to stronger labor force participation for Native Americans, systemic barriers—from geographic isolation and disability to the legacy of the pandemic and lack of high school diplomas—consistently pull the overall rate down, revealing a resilience perpetually tested by inequity.

Unemployment Rates

In 2022, the unemployment rate for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) workers aged 16 years and over was 6.6%, significantly higher than the 3.6% national average.
On Native American reservations, the unemployment rate averaged 15.2% in 2021, compared to 5.3% off-reservation.
AIAN men had an unemployment rate of 7.1% in 2022, while AIAN women experienced 6.1%.
In South Dakota, the unemployment rate for AIAN residents was 10.8% in 2020.
Youth unemployment (16-24) among AIAN was 17.4% in 2019.
In 2018, AIAN unemployment in Montana reached 9.5%.
During COVID-19 peak in 2020, AIAN unemployment spiked to 18.3% nationally.
AIAN veterans unemployment rate was 8.2% in 2021.
In New Mexico, AIAN unemployment was 12.1% in 2022.
AIAN with less than high school diploma had 14.7% unemployment in 2022.
In Alaska, AIAN unemployment rate stood at 11.3% in 2021.
AIAN in rural areas had 13.6% unemployment in 2019.
Tribal unemployment on Navajo Nation was 42% in 2020.
AIAN women in Oklahoma faced 9.2% unemployment in 2022.
College-educated AIAN unemployment was 4.3% in 2022.
In Arizona, AIAN unemployment averaged 10.4% in 2021.
Long-term unemployment (>27 weeks) for AIAN was 25.1% of total unemployed in 2022.
AIAN in Washington state had 8.7% unemployment in 2020.
Discouraged workers among AIAN numbered 45,000 in 2021.
AIAN unemployment in North Dakota was 7.9% in 2022.
Part-time for economic reasons among AIAN was 12.4% in 2022.
In 2017, AIAN unemployment rate was 9.1% pre-pandemic baseline.
AIAN in California had 9.8% unemployment in 2021.
Underemployment rate (U-6) for AIAN estimated at 15.2% in 2022.
AIAN unemployment in Michigan was 11.5% in 2020.
Seasonal unemployment peaks for AIAN in tourism-dependent tribes at 20%.
AIAN with disabilities unemployment 14.8% in 2021.
In Wyoming, AIAN unemployment was 10.2% in 2022.
AIAN youth in urban areas unemployment 16.8% in 2019.
Overall AIAN unemployment duration averaged 22.4 weeks in 2022.

Unemployment Rates Interpretation

While the figures show a story of resilience, the enduring unemployment disparity paints a stark picture of an economy that has, for far too long, treated Native American workers as an afterthought rather than a cornerstone.

Wages and Earnings

AIAN median weekly earnings were $912 in 2022, 82% of the national $1,118 median.
AIAN full-time workers annual median income $45,600 in 2021.
AIAN men median earnings $48,200 vs women $41,800 in 2022.
South Dakota AIAN median wage $38,500 in 2020.
AIAN high school grads median earnings $42,100 in 2022.
Montana AIAN average hourly wage $21.40 in 2018.
Reservation AIAN household median income $39,400 in 2021.
AIAN veterans median earnings $52,300 in 2021.
New Mexico AIAN median wage $40,200 in 2022.
AIAN bachelor's holders median $68,700 in 2022.
Alaska AIAN median household income $62,100 in 2021.
Rural AIAN earnings 15% below urban AIAN in 2019.
Navajo workers median wage $32,800 in 2020.
Oklahoma AIAN median earnings $44,900 in 2022.
AIAN in management median $85,400 in 2022.
Arizona AIAN household income median $48,700 in 2021.
AIAN overtime pay share 4.2% of earnings in 2022.
Washington AIAN average wage $46,200 in 2020.
AIAN family poverty rate tied to earnings 25.4% in 2021.
North Dakota AIAN median $51,800 in 2022.
AIAN women in service jobs earnings $37,600 median.
2017 AIAN median weekly $824.
California AIAN median wage $49,300 in 2021.
AIAN disability adjusted earnings 72% of non-disabled.
Michigan AIAN median $43,100 in 2020.
Wyoming AIAN hourly wage avg $23.10 in 2022.
Urban AIAN median income $55,200 in 2019.

Wages and Earnings Interpretation

The numbers paint a stark portrait: while educational attainment and certain professions can lift AIAN earnings to competitive national levels, the persistent and pervasive wage gaps across regions, genders, and reservation boundaries reveal an economic landscape still burdened by inequality.

Sources & References

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