State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-07-20

Unemployment rates were lower in June in 9 states, higher in 3 states, and stable in 38 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Ten states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 40 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point from May to 4.0 percent but was 0.3 point lower than in June 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states in June 2018, decreased in 1 state, and was essentially unchanged in 44 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 32 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 18 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in June, 2.1 percent. The rate in Oregon (4.0 percent) set a new series low. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 7.1 percent.