State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2020-12-18

Unemployment rates were lower in November in 25 states and the District of Columbia, higher in 7 states, and stable in 18 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-eight states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier and two states had little change. The national unemployment rate edged down by 0.2 percentage point over the month to 6.7 percent but was 3.2 points higher than in November 2019. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 17 states, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 30 states and the District of Columbia in November 2020. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 48 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 2 states. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside.