October 2001 — 2001-11-20

Regional and state unemployment rates generally moved upward in October. Unemployment rates were higher over the month in 33 states, lower in 8 states and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in 9 states, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The national jobless rate rose to 5.4 percent in October. Nonfarm employment decreased in 35 states and the District of Columbia. The regional and state labor market data for the month of October reflect the impact of the terrorist attacks of September 11. The labor market had been weakening before the attacks, and those events exacerbated this weakness. While it is not possible to quantify the terrorist attacks' effect on employment and unemployment, the broad impact of these events is evident, particularly in the nonfarm employment data. The West continued to report the highest unemployment rate, 5.6 percent in October. The Midwest and Northeast registered the lowest rates, 4.6 percent each.