February 1996 — 1996-04-02

Unemployment rates were lower in February 1996 than a month earlier in 31 states and the District of Columbia, higher in 13 states, and unchanged in 6 states, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The national unemployment rate decreased to 5.5 percent in February, from 5.8 percent in January. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 45 states over the month. West Virginia's unemployment rate fell 1.0 percentage point to 7.4 percent, the largest over-the-month decrease of any state. South Carolina and Pennsylvania had the next largest declines (both 0.7 percentage point), bringing their rates (4.7 and 5.5 percent, respectively) to their lowest points since mid-1990. Delaware and North Carolina recorded reductions of 0.6 percentage point. Compared with a year earlier, unemployment rates in February were lower in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Three states experienced over-the-year decreases of a percentage point or more, and nine additional states experienced declines of more than one-half point.