Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2010-08-20

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in July. Eigh- teen states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate de- creases, 14 states registered rate increases, and 18 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 20 states posted increases, and 3 states had no change. The national jobless rate was unchanged in July at 9.5 percent and little dif- ferent from a year earlier (9.4 percent). In July, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 37 states and the Dis- trict of Columbia and decreased in 13 states. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in Michigan (+27,800), the District of Columbia (+17,800), Massachusetts (+13,200), New York (+10,500), and Min- nesota (+9,800).