Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: April 2006 — 2006-05-19

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in April. Overall, 32 states and the District of Columbia registered over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 8 states recorded decreases, and 10 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates declined in 36 states and the District of Columbia, rose in 11 states, and stayed the same in 3 states. The national unemployment rate was unchanged in April at 4.7 percent but was 0.4 percentage point lower than a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 41 states and decreased in 9 states and the District of Columbia in April. The largest employment increases were recorded in Illinois (+23,100), Georgia (+19,500), Ohio (+18,500), Michigan (+16,600), and Minnesota (+15,800).