Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2014-11-21

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in October. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from September, 5 states had increases, and 11 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-two states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, five states had increases, and three states had no change. The national jobless rate edged down to 5.8 percent from September and was 1.4 percentage points lower than in October 2013. In October 2014, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 38 states and decreased in 12 states and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in California (+41,500), Texas (+35,200), and Florida (+34,400). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Nevada (-7,300), followed by New York (-5,600) and New Jersey (-4,500).