State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2019-03-22

Unemployment rates were lower in February in 4 states and stable in 46 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Seven states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 2 states had increases, and 41 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate declined to 3.8 percent over the month and was 0.3 percentage point lower than in February 2018. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 2 states in February 2019 and was essentially unchanged in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 22 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 28 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Iowa, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Vermont had the lowest unemployment rates in February, 2.4 percent each. The rates in Alabama (3.7 percent), North Dakota (2.4 percent), Tennessee (3.2 percent), and Vermont (2.4 percent) set new series lows.