Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2013-04-19

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in March. Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases, 7 states had increases, and 17 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, eight states had increases, and three states had no change. The national jobless rate was little changed from February at 7.6 percent but was 0.6 percentage point lower than in March 2012. In March 2013, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 23 states, decreased in 26 states and the District of Columbia, and was unchanged in New Mexico. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in Florida (+32,700) and California (+25,500). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Ohio (-20,400), followed by Illinois (-17,800).