May 1998 — 1998-06-19

Regional and state unemployment rates in May generally continued at the low levels recorded in the early months of this year. After declining in April, the four regions showed virtually no change over the month. Forty- three states registered shifts of 0.3 percentage point or less, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The national jobless rate remained at 4.3 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Among the regions, the Midwest continued to report the lowest unemployment rate, 3.5 percent in May, while the West again had the highest rate, 5.2 percent. Compared with last May, all regions experienced unemployment rate declines: the Northeast by -0.8 percentage point, the South by -0.7 point, the Midwest by -0.5 point, and the West by -0.4 point.