Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2016-09-20

Unemployment rates were significantly higher in August in 6 states, lower in 3 states, and stable in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Ten states had notable jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 5 states had increases, and 35 states and the District had no significant change. The national unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent in August and was little different from that of August 2015. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 4 states and the District of Columbia in August 2016, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 43 states. Over the year, 35 states added appreciable numbers of nonfarm payroll jobs, North Dakota and Wyoming lost jobs, and 13 states and the District were essentially unchanged. In August, two regions had unemployment rates significantly different than the U.S. rate of 4.9 percent: the Midwest, at 4.5 percent, and West, at 5.3 percent.