State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-08-17

Unemployment rates were lower in July in 11 states, higher in 2 states, and stable in 37 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Ten states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 40 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point from June to 3.9 percent and was 0.4 point lower than in July 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states in July 2018, decreased in 1 state, and was essentially unchanged in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 34 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 16 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in July, 2.1 percent. The rate in Oregon (3.9 percent) set a new series low. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 6.9 percent.