January 1997 — 1997-03-25

Unemployment rates for most states showed little movement in January, as 32 states reported changes of 0.3 percentage point or less in either direction from December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The national jobless rate was essentially unchanged at 5.4 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 21 states in January. In January, Nebraska had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, 2.5 percent. Indiana recorded the next lowest rate, 3.0 percent, followed closely by North Dakota and South Dakota (both 3.1 percent) and New Hampshire and Utah (both 3.2 percent). Seven other states reported rates below 4.0 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest jobless rate (7.8 percent), followed by Alaska (7.5 percent) and West Virginia (7.1 percent). Thirty-seven states registered unemployment rates below the U.S. average of 5.4 percent, while 12 states and the District of Columbia had rates that were higher.