Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2016-12-16

Unemployment rates were significantly lower in November in 18 states and stable in 32 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Nine states had notable jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 2 states had increases, and 39 states and the District had no significant change. The national unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in November, down from 4.9 percent in October, and 0.4 percentage point lower than in November 2015. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 9 states in November 2016, decreased in 2 states, and was essentially unchanged in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 31 states and the District added nonfarm payroll jobs, Wyoming lost jobs, and 18 states were essentially unchanged. In November, the only region with an unemployment rate significantly different from the U.S. rate of 4.6 percent was the West, at 5.0 percent.