November 2001 — 2001-12-21

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally higher in November than in the prior month. Jobless rates rose in all four regions and in 36 states, while only 6 states posted decreases, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The national jobless rate increased to 5.7 percent in November. Nonfarm employment decreased in 34 states. The West registered the highest unemployment rate, 5.9 percent in November, while the Midwest and Northeast each reported the lowest rate, 4.8 percent. The jobless rate in the South was 5.1 percent. All four regions had rate increases over the year, ranging from 1.0 percentage point in the Northeast to 1.4 points in the West. (See table 1.) Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific division once again had the highest unemployment rate, 6.2 percent. The West North Central division continued to have the lowest rate, 3.9 percent in November, with New England registering the next lowest rate, 4.0 percent.