September 1994 — 1994-11-01

Unemployment rates were lower in September 1994 than a month earlier in 27 states and the District of Columbia, higher in 14 states, and unchanged in 9 states, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The national unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from August. Nonfarm payroll employment continued on an upward trend, with 37 states recording over-the-month gains. West Virginia and Mississippi had the only unemployment rate decreases of 1 percentage point or more between August and September--1.2 and 1.1 points, respectively. Seven other states and the District of Columbia had declines ranging from 0.6 to 0.9 percentage point. Florida was the only state with an increase of a percentage point or more, and three states showed increases of 0.6 or 0.7 point--Arizona, Idaho, and New Jersey. Nebraska had the lowest state unemployment rate, 2.7 percent, and 16 other states registered unemployment rates of 4.9 percent or less.