Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-12-19

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally higher in November. Overall, 37 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 5 states registered de- creases, and 8 states had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, job- less rates were up in 49 states and the District of Columbia and un- changed in 1 state. The national unemployment rate rose from 6.5 to 6.7 percent in November and was up 2.0 percentage points from a year earlier. In November, nonfarm payroll employment rose in 9 states and fell in 41 states plus the District of Columbia. The largest over-the- month gains in the level of employment were recorded in Washington (+17,400) where some 27,000 aerospace workers ended their strike and returned to payrolls, Texas (+7,300), Oklahoma (+3,000), and Alaska (+2,500).