Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-03-11

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in January. Overall, 27 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 16 states registered decreases, and 7 states had no changes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were up in 32 states and the District of Columbia, down in 14 states, and unchanged in 4 states. The national unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in January at 4.9 percent, but was up from 4.6 percent a year earlier. Between December 2007 and January 2008, employment increased in 30 states, decreased in 18 states and the District of Columbia, and remained unchanged in 2 states. Texas posted the largest over-the-month increase in employment (+28,000), followed by Illinois (+21,900), Georgia (+21,400), and Ohio (+18,900).