Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: February 2006 — 2006-03-30

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally up slightly in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Thirty-three states recorded rate increases over the month, 11 states and the District of Columbia experienced rate decreases, and 6 states had no changes in their rates. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 39 states and the District of Columbia, up in 8 states, and unchanged in 3 states. The national unemployment rate, 4.8 percent in February, was little changed from that of January but was down by 0.6 percentage point from a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia over the month and decreased in 9 states. The largest employment gains occurred in California (+31,100), Texas (+25,400), Florida (+22,900), Arizona (+16,200), Washington (+13,800), and North Carolina (+13,000).