Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-09-19

Regional and state unemployment rates were mostly higher in August. Overall, 44 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the- month unemployment rate increases, 5 states registered decreases, and 1 state had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were up in 47 states and the District of Columbia and down in 3 states. The national unemployment rate rose to 6.1 percent in August, 1.4 percent- age points higher than a year earlier. Between July and August 2008, nonfarm payroll employment in- creased in 32 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 18 states. The largest over-the-month gains in the level of em- ployment occurred in Louisiana (+9,400), Texas (+6,800), Nebraska (+4,900), the District of Columbia (+4,300), Indiana (+4,100), and Washington (+4,000).