Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: December 2006 — 2007-01-23

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in December. Overall, 17 states recorded over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, 15 states and the District of Columbia registered increases, and 18 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 38 states, up in 8 states and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in 4 states. The na- tional unemployment rate was unchanged in December at 4.5 percent, but was 0.4 percentage point lower than a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 37 states, decreased in 11 states and the District of Columbia, and was unchanged in 2 states in December. The largest employment gains occurred in Florida (+18,800), California (+17,200), Texas (+15,600), Michigan (+14,900), Arizona (+13,000), and Pennsylvania (+10,300).