Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: October 2007 — 2007-11-20

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in October. Overall, 22 states and the District of Columbia recorded over- the-month unemployment rate increases, 17 states registered decreases, and 11 states had no changes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 25 states and the District of Columbia and up in 25 states. The national unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 4.7 percent. In October, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 31 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 17 states, and remained unchanged in 2 states. The largest employment decreases were recorded in Michigan (-22,400), California (-15,800), Arizona (-14,900), Virginia (-8,900), and Illinois (-7,000).