An area's labor force provides insight on the availability factor and is residence-based—that is, the people are working or seeking work and reside in the particular county or region.
| Annual Labor Force Estimates in 2023 | ||
| Number | Pct. Chg. from 2018 | |
| Labor Force | 511,700 | 4.4% |
| Employed | 494,846 | 4.6% |
| Unemployed | 16,854 | -1.2% |
| Rate | 3.3 | -5.7% |
| Labor Force Estimates | |||||
| Labor Force | Emp. | Unemp. | Area Rate | State Rate | |
| 2013 | 464,051 | 425,318 | 38,733 | 8.3 | 7.5 |
| 2014 | 467,693 | 437,320 | 30,373 | 6.5 | 5.9 |
| 2015 | 472,230 | 448,465 | 23,765 | 5.0 | 4.8 |
| 2016 | 481,919 | 460,661 | 21,258 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 483,473 | 466,168 | 17,305 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
| 2018 | 490,263 | 473,205 | 17,058 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
| 2019 | 496,811 | 480,605 | 16,206 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| 2020 | 493,768 | 453,683 | 40,085 | 8.1 | 7.3 |
| 2021 | 498,953 | 474,680 | 24,273 | 4.9 | 3.9 |
| 2022 | 504,140 | 487,842 | 16,298 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 511,700 | 494,846 | 16,854 | 3.3 | 3.3 |