Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: January 2006 — 2006-03-09

Regional and nearly all state unemployment rates were lower in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia recorded rate declines over the month, two states experienced rate increases, and one state had a rate that was unchanged. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 46 states and the District of Columbia and up in 4 states. In January, the national unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 4.7 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 30 states and the District of Columbia over the month and decreased in 20 states. The largest employment gains occurred in Florida (+31,100), California (+18,300), Texas (+13,400), North Carolina (+11,700), Georgia (+11,000), and Louisiana (+10,900). Nebras- ka reported the largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment (+0.8 percent), followed by Louisiana (+0.6 percent) and the District of Columbia, Mississippi, and Wyoming (+0.5 percent each).