State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2021-09-17

Unemployment rates were lower in August in 15 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 35 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-nine states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and one state was little changed. The national unemployment rate, 5.2 percent, declined by 0.2 percentage point over the month and was 3.2 points lower than in August 2020. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 36 states and the District of Columbia in August 2021. Over the year, 49 states and the District added nonfarm payroll jobs and 1 state was essentially unchanged. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside.