Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2017-01-24

Unemployment rates were significantly lower in December 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. Eleven states had notable jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 2 states had increases, and 37 states and the District had no significant change. The national unemployment rate, 4.7 percent, was little changed from November but 0.3 percentage point lower than in December 2015. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 5 states in December 2016, increased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 26 states and the District added nonfarm payroll jobs, 2 states lost jobs, and 22 states were essentially unchanged. In December, no region had an unemployment rate significantly different from the U.S. rate of 4.7 percent.