State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2021-10-22

Unemployment rates were lower in September in 27 states and the District of Columbia, higher in 1 state, and stable in 22 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-eight states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and two states were little changed. The national unemployment rate, 4.8 percent, fell by 0.4 percentage point over the month and was 3.0 points lower than in September 2020. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 36 states and the District of Columbia in September 2021. Over the year, 47 states and the District added nonfarm payroll jobs and 3 states were essentially unchanged. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside.