State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2017-09-15

Unemployment rates were higher in August in 8 states, lower in 1 state, and stable in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-one states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 1 state had an increase, and 28 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate, 4.4 percent, was little changed from July but was 0.5 percentage point lower than in August 2016. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 6 states in August 2017, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 29 states and the District added nonfarm payroll jobs and 21 states were essentially unchanged. North Dakota and Colorado had the lowest unemployment rates in August, 2.3 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. The rate in Tennessee (3.3 percent) set a new series low.