State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-03-12

Unemployment rates were lower in January in 6 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 44 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Sixteen states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 34 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate was unchanged from December at 4.1 percent but was 0.7 percentage point lower than in January 2017. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 3 states in January 2018, decreased in 1 state, and was essentially unchanged in 46 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 21 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 29 states and the District were essentially unchanged. Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in January, 2.1 percent. The rates in Alabama (3.7 percent), California (4.4 percent), Maine (3.0 percent), and Mississippi (4.6 percent) set new series lows. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had the highest jobless rate, 7.3 percent.