Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2012-06-15

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in May. Eighteen states recorded unemployment rate increases, 14 states and the District of Columbia posted rate decreases, and 18 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while only one state experienced an increase. The national jobless rate, at 8.2 percent, was essentially unchanged from April, and 0.8 percentage point lower than May 2011. In May 2012, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 27 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 22 states, and was unchanged in Maine. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in California (+33,900), followed by Ohio (+19,600) and New Jersey (+17,600). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in North Carolina (-16,500), followed by Pennsylvania (-9,900) and Maryland (-7,500).