Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2009-04-17

Regional and state unemployment rates were nearly all higher in March. Forty-six states recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, North Dakota and the District of Columbia registered rate decreases, and 3 states had no change in their rate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were up in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate rose from 8.1 percent in February to 8.5 percent in March, which was 3.4 percent- age points higher than in March 2008. In March 2009, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 48 states and the District of Columbia and rose in 2 states. The largest over- the-month employment decrease occurred in California (-62,100), fol- lowed by Florida (-51,900), Texas (-47,100), North Carolina (-41,300), Illinois (-39,600), and Ohio (-37,500).