Forty-five US states, District of Columbia recorded declines in unemployment rates in November from October; 43 states, District of Columbia had lower jobless rates versus November 2011

Cindy Allen

WASHINGTON , December 21, 2012 (press release) – Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in November. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases and five states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, six states experienced increases, and one state had no change. The national jobless rate, 7.7 percent, edged down from October and was 1.0 percentage point lower than in November 2011.

In November 2012, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 30 states and decreased in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in North Carolina (+30,600), followed by Florida (+24,500) and Texas (+22,100). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in New York (-33,500), followed by Indiana (-9,100) and New Jersey (-8,100). November data for New Jersey and New York reflect the impact of Hurricane Sandy, as well as underlying economic trends. Louisiana experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment (+0.9 percent), followed by Hawaii, Nevada, and North Carolina (+0.8 percent each). The District of Columbia experienced the largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment (-0.7 percent), followed by Nebraska and New York (-0.4 percent each). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 45 states and decreased in 5 states and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-year percentage increase occurred in North Dakota (+4.7 percent). The largest over- the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in West Virginia (-1.8 percent).

REGIONAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- NOVEMBER 2012

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.