State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-12-21

Unemployment rates were lower in November 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 remained unchanged from October at 3.7 percent but was 0.4 percentage point lower than in November 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 4 states in November 2018 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 and Iowa had the lowest unemployment rates in November, 2.4 percent each. The rates in Idaho (2.6 percent), Missouri (3.0 percent), and New York (3.9 percent) set new series lows. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.3 percent.