State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2020-03-16

Unemployment rates were lower in January in 5 states and stable in 45 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eleven states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 1 state had an increase, and 38 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate, 3.6 percent, was little changed over the month but was 0.4 percentage point lower than in January 2019. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 12 states in January 2020 and was essentially unchanged in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 18 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 32 states and the District were essentially unchanged. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside.