State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2017-03-24

Unemployment rates were significantly lower in February in 10 states, higher in 1 state, and stable in 39 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Nine states had notable jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, and 41 states and the District had no significant change. The national unemployment rate, at 4.7 percent, was little changed from January but 0.2 percentage point lower than in February 2016. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states in February 2017 and was essentially unchanged in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 31 states added nonfarm payroll jobs, 2 states lost jobs, and 17 states and the District were essentially unchanged. New Hampshire had the lowest unemployment rate in February, 2.7 percent, closely followed by Hawaii and South Dakota, 2.8 percent each, and Colorado and North Dakota, 2.9 percent each.