Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2012-07-20

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in June. Twenty-seven states recorded unemployment rate increases, 11 states and the District of Columbia posted rate decreases, and 12 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while three states experienced increases. The national jobless rate, at 8.2 percent, was unchanged from May but 0.9 percentage point lower than in June 2011. In June 2012, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 21 states. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in California (+38,300), followed by Ohio (+18,400) and North Carolina (+16,900). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Wisconsin (-13,200), followed by Tennessee (-12,100) and Maryland (-11,000).