Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2011-10-21

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in September. Twenty-five states recorded unemployment rate decreases, 14 states posted rate increases, and 11 states and the District of Columbia had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-eight states registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 10 states and the District of Columbia had increases, and 2 states experienced no change. The national jobless rate was unchanged at 9.1 percent, but was 0.5 percentage point lower than a year earlier. In September, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 25 states, increased in 24 states and the District of Columbia, and was unchanged in 1 state. The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in North Carolina (-22,200), followed by Ohio (-21,600) and Pennsylvania (-15,800). The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in Florida (+23,300), followed by Texas (+15,400) and Louisiana (+14,100).