State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-11-16

Unemployment rates were lower in October in 6 states, higher in 2 states, and stable in 42 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eighteen states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 32 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate was unchanged from September at 3.7 percent but was 0.4 percentage point lower than in October 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 9 states in October 2018 and was essentially unchanged in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 36 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 14 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in October, 2.3 percent. The rates in Texas (3.7 percent) and Washington (4.3 percent) set new series lows. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.4 percent.