State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release - 2023 M12 Results — 2024-01-23

Unemployment rates were higher in December in 15 states, lower in 1 state, and stable in 34 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eighteen states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 15 states had decreases, and 17 states had little change. The national unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent but was 0.2 percentage point higher than in December 2022. Nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in December 2023. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 30 states and was essentially unchanged in 20 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.