Weekly US Government Data Roundup: July 24, 2023

Which states rely the most on federal aid?

In 2020, the US government provided over $1 trillion in grants to state and local governments — accounting for a quarter of states’ total revenues. These grants fund various essential programs like healthcare, education, social services, infrastructure, and public safety. State funding is not equal for various reasons.  

• California received the most federal aid of any state: $116.0 billion. Rounding out the top five were New York ($79.2 billion), Texas ($68.2 billion), Florida ($41.7 billion), and Pennsylvania ($41.0 billion).
  
• States that relied the most on federal grants varied in size, demographic makeup, and location. Vermont relied on federal grants the most: 35.8% of its budget came from the federal government. West Virginia followed at 34.1%, and Alaska at 33.9%.
  
• On a per-person basis, Washington, DC, received the most: $6,983. Wyoming received more than any other state, at $6,894 per person. Georgia received the least federal funding per person, with $1,807 in 2020. Florida, despite receiving more federal funding than 46 other states, received the second least per person: $1,937.
  
• Federal grants are divided into two categories: formula grants and competitive grants. Formula grants are based on such factors as population size, poverty rates, or specific needs of the area. Competitive grants require state and local governments to submit applications outlining their plans to use the grant money effectively.

How much does your state receive per person? 

Who is back at work?

The national employment rate fell more than 9 percentage points in the early months of the pandemic. More than three years later, the share of people working has bounced back — but changes in the labor market have led to bigger employment gains for some. USAFacts explored employment data to see which Americans are working at higher and lower rates than before the pandemic. Here’s what we found:

• As of May 2023, the US employment rate has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 60.3% of people employed compared to 60.6% in May 2019.

• Mothers experienced a steeper initial drop in employment during the pandemic but have since recovered faster. As of May 2023, the employment rate for mothers increased by 2.5 percentage points compared to May 2019.
  
• Some groups have surpassed pre-pandemic employment levels. The employment rate for Black women increased by 1 percentage point from May 2019 to May 2023.

• The employment rate for people with disabilities has also surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reaching 22.4% in May 2023 — 3 percentage points higher than four years prior.
  
• The employment rate for men over 55 with college degrees has dropped by 3.5 percentage points since May 2019. For men over 55 with no degree, the drop has been smaller: 2.3 percentage points.

Explore the data to see how employment has changed for people like you.

Data behind the news

• SAG-AFTRA and the Writer’s Guild of America remain on a historic double strike that has brought Hollywood productions to a halt. Despite this high-profile example, both union membership and labor strikes have been declining for decades.
  
• The “Barbenheimer” premiere made its mark on pop culture this weekend. Head over to USAFacts’ Instagram to see who lives in our fact-filled Barbie Dreamhouse.
  
• Show off your knowledge of USAFacts articles and data by going 7/7 in this week’s fact quiz.

One last fact

Abortion medication can be prescribed by a clinician or via telehealth in 22 states and Washington, DC, and must be prescribed by a doctor/physician in 15 others. It is currently banned in 13 states.