Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2011-12-20

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in November. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases, three states posted rate increases, and four states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-five states registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while five states and the District of Columbia experienced increases. The national jobless rate fell by 0.4 percentage point between October and November to 8.6 percent, down from 9.8 percent in November 2010. In November, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 29 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 19 states, and was unchanged in 2 states. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in New York (+29,500) and Texas (+20,800). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Wisconsin (-14,600), followed by Minnesota (-13,700) and Colorado (-4,500).