State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-10-19

Unemployment rates were lower in September in 9 states, higher in 4 states, and stable in 37 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sixteen states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 34 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point from August to 3.7 percent and was 0.5 percentage point lower than in September 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 3 states in September 2018, increased in 1, and was essentially unchanged in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 37 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 13 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in September, 2.2 percent. The rates in Arkansas (3.5 percent), California (4.1 percent), Idaho (2.7 percent), South Carolina (3.3 percent), Texas (3.8 percent), and Washington (4.4 percent) set new series lows.