Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2014-05-16

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in April. Forty-three states had unemployment rate decreases, two states had increases, and five states and the District of Columbia had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, one state had an increase, and two states had no change. The national jobless rate fell to 6.3 percent from March and was 1.2 percentage points lower than in April 2013. In April 2014, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 39 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 10 states, and was unchanged in Nebraska. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in Texas (+64,100), California (+56,100), and Florida (+34,000). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Illinois (-6,800), followed by Minnesota (-4,200) and Maine (-2,200).