Employment gaps for Native Americans are visible in the latest figures, with the unemployment rate for AIAN workers aged 16 and over sitting at 6.6 percent compared with 3.6 percent nationally. Even more stark, on reservations unemployment averaged 15.2 percent in 2021, while off reservation it was 5.3 percent. We look at what drives these differences across gender, place, education, and job type.
Key Takeaways
- 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 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 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.
- 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%.
- 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.
In 2022, AIAN employment rebounded, but unemployment and earnings gaps persisted nationally.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Rates29 stats
01
In 2022, the employment-population ratio for AIAN aged 16+ was 55.4%, below the national 60.1%.
02
AIAN employment rate on reservations was 43.7% in 2021.
03
AIAN women employment rate was 52.3% in 2022.
04
In South Dakota, AIAN employment rate was 48.2% in 2020.
05
AIAN aged 25-54 prime working age employment 65.1% in 2019.
06
Montana AIAN employment rate 51.6% in 2018.
07
Post-COVID recovery saw AIAN employment rise 2.4% to 57.8% in 2022.
08
AIAN veterans employment rate 54.3% in 2021.
09
New Mexico AIAN employment 49.7% in 2022.
10
High school graduates AIAN employment 58.9% in 2022.
11
Alaska AIAN employment rate 53.4% in 2021.
12
Rural AIAN employment 47.2% in 2019.
13
Navajo Nation employment rate 38.5% in 2020.
14
Oklahoma AIAN employment 56.1% in 2022.
15
Bachelor's degree holders AIAN employment 72.4% in 2022.
16
Arizona AIAN employment 50.8% in 2021.
17
AIAN full-time employment share 62.7% in 2022.
18
Washington AIAN employment 54.9% in 2020.
19
AIAN self-employment rate contributed to 8.3% employment in 2021.
20
North Dakota AIAN employment 59.2% in 2022.
21
AIAN multiple jobholders 6.1% of employed in 2022.
22
2017 baseline AIAN employment-population 56.8%.
23
California AIAN employment 52.7% in 2021.
24
AIAN contingent workforce participation 11.2% in 2022.
25
Michigan AIAN employment 51.3% in 2020.
26
Tourism industry AIAN employment recovery to 45% capacity.
27
AIAN with disabilities employment 42.6% in 2021.
28
Wyoming AIAN employment 50.1% in 2022.
29
Urban AIAN youth employment 48.5% in 2019.
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Industry and Occupation28 stats
01
AIAN in construction industry 14.2% of AIAN employed in 2022.
02
AIAN service occupations 22.1% employment share in 2022.
03
Reservation economies 28% in government jobs in 2021.
04
AIAN men in natural resources/mining 5.3% in 2022.
05
South Dakota AIAN 19% in manufacturing.
06
AIAN education sector 12.4% of workforce in 2019.
07
Montana AIAN agriculture/forestry 8.7% in 2018.
08
Healthcare/social assistance AIAN 18.6% in 2020.
09
AIAN veterans in professional occupations 24.3%.
10
New Mexico AIAN retail trade 15.2% in 2022.
11
AIAN transportation 6.8% employment in 2022.
12
Alaska AIAN fishing industry 9.1% in 2021.
13
Rural AIAN construction 16.4% in 2019.
14
Navajo gaming industry employs 12,000 AIAN.
15
Oklahoma AIAN energy sector 7.5% in 2022.
16
AIAN management/professional 28.9% in 2022.
17
Arizona AIAN tourism 11.3% in 2021.
18
AIAN sales/office occupations 21.7% share.
19
Washington AIAN tech sector 4.2% penetration in 2020.
20
AIAN production occupations 9.8% in 2021.
21
North Dakota AIAN oil/gas 10.6% in 2022.
22
AIAN food service 14.5% of women employed.
23
2017 AIAN industry distribution similar to 2022.
24
California AIAN entertainment 6.7% in 2021.
25
AIAN protective services 5.1% occupation share.
26
Michigan AIAN auto manufacturing 8.4% in 2020.
27
Wyoming AIAN ranching 7.2% in 2022.
28
Urban AIAN finance/insurance 9.3% in 2019.
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Labor Force Participation27 stats
01
AIAN labor force participation rate for ages 16+ was 60.2% in 2022, compared to 62.2% nationally.
02
Reservation AIAN LFPR averaged 50.8% in 2021.
03
AIAN men LFPR 64.7% in 2022.
04
South Dakota AIAN LFPR 54.3% in 2020.
05
AIAN youth (16-24) LFPR 52.1% in 2019.
06
Montana AIAN LFPR 57.9% in 2018.
07
COVID impact reduced AIAN LFPR by 4.2% to 57.6% in 2020.
08
AIAN veterans LFPR 61.4% in 2021.
09
New Mexico AIAN LFPR 55.2% in 2022.
10
AIAN without high school LFPR 48.9% in 2022.
11
Alaska AIAN LFPR 58.7% in 2021.
12
Rural AIAN LFPR 51.3% in 2019.
13
Navajo Nation LFPR 45.2% in 2020.
14
Oklahoma AIAN LFPR 60.8% in 2022.
15
College grads AIAN LFPR 75.6% in 2022.
16
Arizona AIAN LFPR 54.1% in 2021.
17
AIAN prime age (25-54) LFPR 68.4% in 2022.
18
Washington AIAN LFPR 59.3% in 2020.
19
Not in labor force AIAN share 39.8% in 2021.
20
North Dakota AIAN LFPR 62.5% in 2022.
21
AIAN women LFPR 56.4% in 2022.
22
Pre-2017 AIAN LFPR 61.2%.
23
California AIAN LFPR 57.1% in 2021.
24
AIAN disability LFPR 49.2% in 2021.
25
Michigan AIAN LFPR 55.9% in 2020.
26
Wyoming AIAN LFPR 56.7% in 2022.
27
Urban AIAN LFPR 61.8% in 2019.
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Unemployment Rates30 stats
01
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.
02
On Native American reservations, the unemployment rate averaged 15.2% in 2021, compared to 5.3% off-reservation.
03
AIAN men had an unemployment rate of 7.1% in 2022, while AIAN women experienced 6.1%.
04
In South Dakota, the unemployment rate for AIAN residents was 10.8% in 2020.
05
Youth unemployment (16-24) among AIAN was 17.4% in 2019.
06
In 2018, AIAN unemployment in Montana reached 9.5%.
07
During COVID-19 peak in 2020, AIAN unemployment spiked to 18.3% nationally.
08
AIAN veterans unemployment rate was 8.2% in 2021.
09
In New Mexico, AIAN unemployment was 12.1% in 2022.
10
AIAN with less than high school diploma had 14.7% unemployment in 2022.
11
In Alaska, AIAN unemployment rate stood at 11.3% in 2021.
12
AIAN in rural areas had 13.6% unemployment in 2019.
13
Tribal unemployment on Navajo Nation was 42% in 2020.
14
AIAN women in Oklahoma faced 9.2% unemployment in 2022.
15
College-educated AIAN unemployment was 4.3% in 2022.
16
In Arizona, AIAN unemployment averaged 10.4% in 2021.
17
Long-term unemployment (>27 weeks) for AIAN was 25.1% of total unemployed in 2022.
18
AIAN in Washington state had 8.7% unemployment in 2020.
19
Discouraged workers among AIAN numbered 45,000 in 2021.
20
AIAN unemployment in North Dakota was 7.9% in 2022.
21
Part-time for economic reasons among AIAN was 12.4% in 2022.
22
In 2017, AIAN unemployment rate was 9.1% pre-pandemic baseline.
23
AIAN in California had 9.8% unemployment in 2021.
24
Underemployment rate (U-6) for AIAN estimated at 15.2% in 2022.
25
AIAN unemployment in Michigan was 11.5% in 2020.
26
Seasonal unemployment peaks for AIAN in tourism-dependent tribes at 20%.
27
AIAN with disabilities unemployment 14.8% in 2021.
28
In Wyoming, AIAN unemployment was 10.2% in 2022.
29
AIAN youth in urban areas unemployment 16.8% in 2019.
30
Overall AIAN unemployment duration averaged 22.4 weeks in 2022.
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Wages and Earnings27 stats
01
AIAN median weekly earnings were $912in 2022, 82% of the national $1,118 median.
02
AIAN full-time workers annual median income $45,600in 2021.
03
AIAN men median earnings $48,200vs women $41,800 in 2022.
04
South Dakota AIAN median wage $38,500in 2020.
05
AIAN high school grads median earnings $42,100in 2022.
06
Montana AIAN average hourly wage $21.40in 2018.
07
Reservation AIAN household median income $39,400in 2021.
08
AIAN veterans median earnings $52,300in 2021.
09
New Mexico AIAN median wage $40,200in 2022.
10
AIAN bachelor's holders median $68,700in 2022.
11
Alaska AIAN median household income $62,100in 2021.
12
Rural AIAN earnings 15% below urban AIAN in 2019.
13
Navajo workers median wage $32,800in 2020.
14
Oklahoma AIAN median earnings $44,900in 2022.
15
AIAN in management median $85,400in 2022.
16
Arizona AIAN household income median $48,700in 2021.
17
AIAN overtime pay share 4.2% of earnings in 2022.
18
Washington AIAN average wage $46,200in 2020.
19
AIAN family poverty rate tied to earnings 25.4% in 2021.
20
North Dakota AIAN median $51,800in 2022.
21
AIAN women in service jobs earnings $37,600median.
22
2017 AIAN median weekly $824.
23
California AIAN median wage $49,300in 2021.
24
AIAN disability adjusted earnings 72% of non-disabled.
25
Michigan AIAN median $43,100in 2020.
26
Wyoming AIAN hourly wage avg $23.10in 2022.
27
Urban AIAN median income $55,200in 2019.
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Native American Employment Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/native-american-employment-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Native American Employment Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/native-american-employment-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Native American Employment Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/native-american-employment-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level