State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2021-08-20

Unemployment rates were lower in July in 17 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 33 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. All 50 states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. The national unemployment rate, 5.4 percent, declined by 0.5 percentage point over the month and was 4.8 points lower than in July 2020. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 38 states and the District of Columbia and was essentially unchanged in 12 states in July 2021. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in all 50 states and the District. 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. The employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry.