Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: July 2006 — 2006-08-18

Regional and state unemployment rates were up slightly in July. Forty- one states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemploy- ment rate increases, seven states registered rate decreases, and two states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were down in 28 states and the District of Columbia, up in 15 states, and unchanged in 7 states. The national unemployment rate rose from 4.6 percent in June to 4.8 percent in July but was down by 0.2 percentage point over the year. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 36 states and decreased in 14 states and the District of Columbia. The largest employment increases were recorded in Illinois (+29,800), Florida (+22,600), Arizona (+16,300), and Texas (+15,700).