Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-11-21

Regional and state unemployment rates were mostly higher in October. Overall, 38 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 5 states registered de- creases, and 7 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were up in 47 states and the District of Columbia, down in 1 state, and unchanged in 2 states. At 6.5 percent in October, the national unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage point over the month and 1.7 points over the year. In October, nonfarm payroll employment rose in 10 states plus the District of Columbia and fell in 40 states. The largest over-the- month gains in the level of employment occurred in Texas (+23,000), Missouri (+5,300), Louisiana (+5,000), the District of Columbia (+1,500), and Kansas (+1,400).