Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: November 2006 — 2006-12-22

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed in November. Overall, 28 states and the District of Columbia recorded over- the-month unemployment rate increases, 10 states registered decreases, and 12 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 37 states, up in 8 states, and unchanged in 5 states and the District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in November at 4.5 percent, but was 0.5 percentage point lower than a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 43 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 5 states, and was unchanged in 2 states in November. The largest employment increases were recorded in Florida (+19,500), Texas (+16,400), California (+15,900), Minnesota (+12,300), Georgia (+9,000), and Pennsylvania (+8,700).