State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2017-03-13

Unemployment rates were significantly lower in January in 5 states and stable in 45 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Six states had notable jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 44 states and the District had no significant change. The national unemployment rate was 4.8 percent in January, little changed from that of both December 2016 and January 2016. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 13 states in January 2017, decreased in Alaska, and was essentially unchanged in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 28 states added nonfarm payroll jobs, 2 states lost jobs, and 20 states and the District were essentially unchanged. New Hampshire had the lowest unemployment rate in January, 2.7 percent, closely followed by Hawaii, 2.8 percent, and Colorado and South Dakota, 2.9 percent each. The rates in both Arkansas (3.8 percent) and Oregon (4.3 percent) set new series lows.