Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2012-12-21

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in November. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases and five states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, six states experienced increases, and one state had no change. The national jobless rate, 7.7 percent, edged down from October and was 1.0 percentage point lower than in November 2011. In November 2012, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 30 states and decreased in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in North Carolina (+30,600), followed by Florida (+24,500) and Texas (+22,100). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in New York (-33,500), followed by Indiana (-9,100) and New Jersey (-8,100).