Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2011-09-16

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in August. Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rate increases, 12 states recorded rate decreases, and 12 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-seven states registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 11 states and the District of Columbia had increases, and 2 states experienced no change. The national jobless rate was unchanged at 9.1 percent but was 0.5 percentage point lower than a year earlier. In August, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 30 states and the District of Columbia and increased in 20 states. The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in New York (-22,700), followed by Georgia (-18,200) and the District of Columbia (-12,500). The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in Minnesota (+28,400), followed by North Carolina (+16,500), Arizona (+15,400), and Florida (+9,900).