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Dec. jobless rates down in 25 states, up in 14; payroll jobs up in 36 states, down in 14
Dec. jobless rates down in 25 states, up in 14; payroll jobs up in 36 states, down in 14Economic News Release
Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary USDL-16-0156
For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 • sminfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 • lausinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
REGIONAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- DECEMBER 2015
Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in December. Twenty-five states had unemployment rate decreases from November, 14 states had increases, and 11 states and the District of Columbia had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-two states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while eight states had increases. The national jobless rate was unchanged from November at 5.0 percent and was 0.6 percentage point lower than in December 2014.
In December 2015, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 14 states. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in California (+60,400), Texas (+24,900), and Florida (+21,900). The largest over-the-month decreases in employment occurred in Illinois (-16,300), Oklahoma (-5,100), and North Dakota (-4,000). The largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment occurred in Alaska (+0.8 percent), followed by Arkansas, South Carolina, and Tennessee (+0.7 percent each). The largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment occurred in North Dakota (-0.9 percent), followed by Vermont (-0.7 percent) and Wyoming (-0.6 percent). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 43 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 7 states. The largest over-the-year percentage increases occurred in Idaho (+4.4 percent), South Carolina (+3.3 percent), and Utah (+3.2 percent). The largest over-the-year percentage decreases occurred in North Dakota (-4.0 percent), Wyoming (-2.2 percent), and West Virginia (-1.5 percent).
Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
In December, the Midwest had the lowest regional unemployment rate, 4.7 percent, while the West had the highest rate, 5.4 percent. Over the month, no region had a statistically significant unemployment rate change. Significant over-the-year rate decreases occurred in all four regions: the West (-1.0 percentage point), Northeast (-0.8 point), Midwest (-0.6 point), and South (-0.4 point). (See table 1.)
Among the nine geographic divisions, the West North Central had the lowest unemployment rate, 3.8 percent in December. The East South Central had the highest rate, 5.9 percent. Over the month, no division had a statistically significant unemployment rate change. Six divisions had significant rate changes from a year earlier, all of which were declines. The largest of these decreases occurred in the Pacific (-1.3 percentage points).
Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary USDL-16-0156
For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 • sminfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 • lausinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
REGIONAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- DECEMBER 2015
Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in December. Twenty-five states had unemployment rate decreases from November, 14 states had increases, and 11 states and the District of Columbia had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-two states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while eight states had increases. The national jobless rate was unchanged from November at 5.0 percent and was 0.6 percentage point lower than in December 2014.
In December 2015, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 14 states. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in California (+60,400), Texas (+24,900), and Florida (+21,900). The largest over-the-month decreases in employment occurred in Illinois (-16,300), Oklahoma (-5,100), and North Dakota (-4,000). The largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment occurred in Alaska (+0.8 percent), followed by Arkansas, South Carolina, and Tennessee (+0.7 percent each). The largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment occurred in North Dakota (-0.9 percent), followed by Vermont (-0.7 percent) and Wyoming (-0.6 percent). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 43 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 7 states. The largest over-the-year percentage increases occurred in Idaho (+4.4 percent), South Carolina (+3.3 percent), and Utah (+3.2 percent). The largest over-the-year percentage decreases occurred in North Dakota (-4.0 percent), Wyoming (-2.2 percent), and West Virginia (-1.5 percent).
Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
In December, the Midwest had the lowest regional unemployment rate, 4.7 percent, while the West had the highest rate, 5.4 percent. Over the month, no region had a statistically significant unemployment rate change. Significant over-the-year rate decreases occurred in all four regions: the West (-1.0 percentage point), Northeast (-0.8 point), Midwest (-0.6 point), and South (-0.4 point). (See table 1.)
Among the nine geographic divisions, the West North Central had the lowest unemployment rate, 3.8 percent in December. The East South Central had the highest rate, 5.9 percent. Over the month, no division had a statistically significant unemployment rate change. Six divisions had significant rate changes from a year earlier, all of which were declines. The largest of these decreases occurred in the Pacific (-1.3 percentage points).
