Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2016-06-17

Unemployment rates were significantly higher in May in 5 states, lower in 4 states and the District of Columbia, and stable in 41 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sixteen states and the District had notable unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 2 states had increases, and 32 states had no significant change. The national jobless rate declined by 0.3 percentage point from April to 4.7 percent and was 0.8 point lower than in May 2015. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 4 states in May 2016, increased in 3 states and the District of Columbia, and was essentially unchanged in 43 states. Over the year, 32 states and the District added appreciable numbers of nonfarm payroll jobs, 2 states lost jobs, and 16 states were essentially unchanged. In May, the only region with an unemployment rate significantly different from that of the U.S. was the West at 5.1 percent.