Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: May 2006 — 2006-06-16

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in May. Overall, 24 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the- month unemployment rate increases, 21 states registered rate decreases, and 5 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. De- partment of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 41 states and the District of Columbia, up in 7 states, and unchanged in 2 states. The national unemployment rate was little changed in May at 4.6 percent, but was 0.5 percentage point lower than a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 16 states, and 1 state had no change in May. The largest employment increases were recorded in Florida (+26,100), California and Texas (+14,800 each), North Carolina (+9,900), and Louisiana (+8,100).