Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2008-08-15

Regional and state unemployment rates were mostly higher in July. Overall, 43 states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the- month unemployment rate increases, 6 states registered decreases, and 1 state had no change, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over the year, jobless rates were up in 47 states and the District of Columbia and down in 3 states. The national unemployment rate rose in July to 5.7 percent, a full percentage point higher than a year earlier. Between June 2008 and July 2008 nonfarm payroll employment increased in 14 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 36 states. The largest employment increases were recorded in Texas (+17,700), Ken- tucky (+11,300), Kansas (+8,800), the District of Columbia (+6,700), and Tennessee (+5,700).