State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2019-03-11

Unemployment rates were lower in January in 3 states, higher in 3 states, and stable in 44 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Nine states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 1 state had an increase, and 40 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate edged up to 4.0 percent over the month and was little changed from January 2018. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 13 states in January 2019 and was essentially unchanged in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 26 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 24 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Iowa and New Hampshire had the lowest unemployment rates in January, 2.4 percent each. The rate in Vermont (2.5 percent) set a new series low. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.5 percent.