May 1996 — 1996-07-02

Most state unemployment rates showed little change in May, as 40 states recorded changes of 0.3 percentage point or less, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The national unemployment rate returned to its March level of 5.6 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment rose in 43 states in May. Unemployment rates were lower in May than a month earlier in 23 states, higher in 19 states and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in 8 states. Three states reported jobless rate decreases of 0.5 percentage point or greater. West Virginia's rate declined by 0.6 percentage point to 7.1 percent, its lowest in nearly 17 years. Jobless rates in New Jersey and Rhode Island decreased by one-half point to 6.1 and 4.6 percent, respectively. For both states, these were the lowest rates in more than 5 years. Unemployment rate increases were relatively small in May, with the District of Columbia registering the largest, 0.5 percentage point.