Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2013-03-18

Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in January. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate increases, 8 states posted decreases, and 17 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, seven states experienced increases, and three states had no change. The national jobless rate, 7.9 percent, was essentially unchanged from December but was 0.4 percentage point lower than in January 2012. In January 2013, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 34 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 16 states. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in Michigan (+26,500), followed by Washington (+24,100) and Massachusetts (+16,100). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Louisiana (-12,500), followed by Wisconsin (-6,000) and Missouri (-4,700).