According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provisional estimates, in July 2003 the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force in North Dakota numbered 350,500, with approximately 12,600 workers unemployed, yielding an unemployment rate of 3.6%, compared to the national average of 6.2% for the same period. Since the beginning of the BLS data series in 1978, the highest unemployment rate recorded was 6.7% in May 1986. The historical low was 2.3% in October 1997. In 2001, an estimated 4.7% of the labor force was employed in construction; 7.3% in manufacturing; 5.2% in transportation, communications, and public utilities; 20.3% in trade; 4.7% in finance, insurance, and real estate; 23.6% in services; 17.9% in government; and 8.5% in agriculture.
The US Department of Labor reported that in 2002, 24,000 of North Dakota's 291,000 employed wage and salary workers were members of unions. This represented 8.1% of those so employed, up from 7.5% in 2001 but down from 9.1% in 1998. The national average is 13.2%. In all, 28,000 workers (9.8%) were represented by unions. In addition to union members, this category includes workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union contract. North Dakota is one of 22 states with a right-to-work law.