Regional And State Employment And Unemployment: October 2006 — 2006-11-21

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally down slightly or unchanged in October. Overall, 32 states registered over-the-month unem- ployment rate decreases, 12 states recorded increases, and 6 states and the District of Columbia had no changes, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates declined in 42 states and the District of Columbia, rose in 4 states, and were unchanged in 4 states. The national unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in October, 0.2 percentage point lower than in September and 0.5 point lower than a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 26 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 23 states and was unchanged in 1 state in October. The largest employment increases were recorded in Texas (+27,900), Arizona (+10,200), California (+9,300), Washington (+8,900), and Florida (+6,100).