For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, November 20, 2009 USDL-09-1405
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 -- OCTOBER 2009
Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed or
higher in October. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia record-
ed over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 13 states registered rate
decreases, and 8 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta-
tistics reported today. Over the year, jobless rates increased in all 50
states and the District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate rose
to 10.2 percent in October, up 0.4 percentage point from September and 3.6
points from October 2008.
In October, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 28 states and the Dis-
trict of Columbia, decreased in 21 states, and remained unchanged in 1 state.
The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in Texas (+41,700),
followed by Michigan (+38,600), California (+25,700), North Carolina (+12,100),
and Pennsylvania (+10,600). Michigan experienced the largest over-the-month
percentage increase in employment (+1.0 percent), followed by the District
of Columbia (+0.8 percent), Montana (+0.7 percent), Oklahoma (+0.6 percent),
and Utah (+0.5 percent). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment
occurred in New York (-15,300), followed by Florida (-8,500), Georgia (-7,500),
Virginia (-7,100), and South Carolina (-5,800). Wyoming (-0.9 percent) expe-
rienced the largest over-the-month percentage decrease in employment, fol-
lowed by Idaho and Nevada (-0.4 percent each), and South Carolina (-0.3 per-
cent). Over the year, nonfarm employment decreased in all 50 states and in-
creased in the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-year percentage de-
creases occurred in Arizona (-6.9 percent), Michigan (-6.4 percent), Nevada
(-6.0 percent), Georgia (-5.6 percent), and Wyoming (-5.5 percent).
Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
In October, the West reported the highest regional jobless rate, 10.8 per-
cent, followed by the Midwest, 10.0 percent. The rate in the West was the
highest in its series. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.)
The Northeast and South recorded the lowest unemployment rates in October,
9.0 and 9.5 percent, respectively. No region experienced a statistically
significant over-the-month rate change. Over the year, all four regions reg-
istered significant rate increases, the largest of which was in the West
(+3.8 percentage points). (See table 1.)
Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific continued to report the high-
est jobless rate, 11.8 percent, in October. The East North Central recorded
the next highest rate, 11.2 percent, followed by the East South Central, 10.7
percent, and South Atlantic, 9.9 percent. The Pacific and South Atlantic divi-
sions both set new series highs. The West North Central registered the lowest
October jobless rate, 7.3 percent. No division experienced a statistically sig-
nificant unemployment rate change from a month earlier. In contrast, all nine
divisions had significant over-the-year rate increases, with the largest of
these occurring in the Pacific (+4.2 percentage points), East South Central
(+4.1 points), and East North Central (+4.0 points).
State Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Michigan again recorded the highest unemployment rate among the states, 15.1
percent, in October. The states with the next highest rates were Nevada, 13.0
percent; Rhode Island, 12.9 percent; California, 12.5 percent; and South
Carolina, 12.1 percent. The rate in California set a new series high, as did
the rates in Delaware (8.7 percent) and Florida (11.2 percent). The District
of Columbia also set a series high, 11.9 percent. North Dakota continued to
register the lowest jobless rate, 4.2 percent, in October, followed by Nebraska,
4.9 percent, and South Dakota, 5.0 percent. In total, 31 states posted jobless
rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 10.2 percent, 8 states and
the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 11 states had rates
that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A
and 3.)
Eight states reported statistically significant over-the-month unemployment
rate increases in October. Alaska and Wyoming experienced the largest of
these (+0.6 percentage point each), followed by Arkansas (+0.5 point). The Dis-
trict of Columbia also recorded a significant rate increase (+0.5 percentage
point). The remaining 42 states registered jobless rates that were not appre-
ciably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that
were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table B.)
All states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically significant in-
creases in their jobless rates from October 2008. The largest of these were in
Michigan (+6.0 percentage points), Nevada (+5.3 points), and Alabama (+5.2
points), while the smallest rate increase occurred in North Dakota (+1.0 point).
(See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Between September and October 2009, six states and the District of Columbia
experienced statistically significant changes in employment. Statistically
significant job gains occurred in Texas (+41,700), Michigan (+38,600), Cali-
fornia (+25,700), Oklahoma (+8,800), the District of Columbia (+5,400), and
Montana (+3,200). The only statistically significant decrease in employment
occurred in Wyoming (-2,600). (See tables D and 5.)
Over the year, 46 states experienced statistically significant changes in em-
ployment, all of which were decreases. The largest statistically significant
job losses occurred in California (-687,700), Florida (-339,600), Texas (-307,200),
Illinois (-286,300), Michigan (-262,700), Ohio (-243,200), New York (-242,500),
and Georgia (-228,000). The smallest statistically significant decreases in em-
ployment occurred in South Dakota (-7,800) and Vermont (-10,700). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for October is
scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for November
is scheduled to be released on Friday, December 18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly differ-
ent from that of the U.S., October 2009, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 10.2
|
Alaska ..............................| 8.9
Arkansas ............................| 7.6
California ..........................| 12.5
Colorado ............................| 6.9
Connecticut .........................| 8.8
Delaware ............................| 8.7
District of Columbia ................| 11.9
Florida .............................| 11.2
Hawaii ..............................| 7.2
Idaho ...............................| 9.0
|
Iowa ................................| 6.7
Kansas ..............................| 6.8
Louisiana ...........................| 7.4
Maine ...............................| 8.2
Maryland ............................| 7.3
Massachusetts .......................| 8.9
Michigan ............................| 15.1
Minnesota ...........................| 7.6
Montana .............................| 6.4
Nebraska ............................| 4.9
|
Nevada ..............................| 13.0
New Hampshire .......................| 6.8
New Mexico ..........................| 7.9
New York ............................| 9.0
North Carolina ......................| 11.0
North Dakota ........................| 4.2
Oklahoma ............................| 7.1
Oregon ..............................| 11.3
Pennsylvania ........................| 8.8
Rhode Island ........................| 12.9
|
South Carolina ......................| 12.1
South Dakota ........................| 5.0
Texas ...............................| 8.3
Utah ................................| 6.5
Vermont .............................| 6.5
Virginia ............................| 6.6
Washington ..........................| 9.3
West Virginia .......................| 8.5
Wisconsin ...........................| 8.4
Wyoming .............................| 7.4
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 Data are not preliminary.
p = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from September 2009 to October 2009, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | September | October | rate change(p)
| 2009 | 2009(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska .........................| 8.3 | 8.9 | 0.6
Arkansas .......................| 7.1 | 7.6 | .5
Delaware .......................| 8.3 | 8.7 | .4
District of Columbia ...........| 11.4 | 11.9 | .5
Ohio ...........................| 10.1 | 10.5 | .4
South Dakota ...................| 4.8 | 5.0 | .2
Texas ..........................| 8.2 | 8.3 | .1
Utah ...........................| 6.2 | 6.5 | .3
Wyoming ........................| 6.8 | 7.4 | .6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from October 2008 to October 2009, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | October | October | rate change(p)
| 2008 | 2009(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 5.7 | 10.9 | 5.2
Alaska .........................| 6.8 | 8.9 | 2.1
Arizona ........................| 6.2 | 9.3 | 3.1
Arkansas .......................| 5.4 | 7.6 | 2.2
California .....................| 8.0 | 12.5 | 4.5
Colorado .......................| 5.3 | 6.9 | 1.6
Connecticut ....................| 6.1 | 8.8 | 2.7
Delaware .......................| 5.5 | 8.7 | 3.2
District of Columbia ...........| 7.7 | 11.9 | 4.2
Florida ........................| 6.9 | 11.2 | 4.3
| | |
Georgia ........................| 6.9 | 10.2 | 3.3
Hawaii .........................| 4.6 | 7.2 | 2.6
Idaho ..........................| 5.6 | 9.0 | 3.4
Illinois .......................| 6.8 | 11.0 | 4.2
Indiana ........................| 6.4 | 9.8 | 3.4
Iowa ...........................| 4.3 | 6.7 | 2.4
Kansas .........................| 4.7 | 6.8 | 2.1
Kentucky .......................| 6.9 | 11.2 | 4.3
Louisiana ......................| 5.5 | 7.4 | 1.9
Maine ..........................| 5.7 | 8.2 | 2.5
| | |
Maryland .......................| 4.8 | 7.3 | 2.5
Massachusetts ..................| 5.8 | 8.9 | 3.1
Michigan .......................| 9.1 | 15.1 | 6.0
Minnesota ......................| 5.6 | 7.6 | 2.0
Mississippi ....................| 7.2 | 9.8 | 2.6
Missouri .......................| 6.5 | 9.3 | 2.8
Montana ........................| 4.8 | 6.4 | 1.6
Nebraska .......................| 3.6 | 4.9 | 1.3
Nevada .........................| 7.7 | 13.0 | 5.3
New Hampshire ..................| 4.0 | 6.8 | 2.8
| | |
New Jersey .....................| 6.0 | 9.7 | 3.7
New Mexico .....................| 4.5 | 7.9 | 3.4
New York .......................| 5.9 | 9.0 | 3.1
North Carolina .................| 7.0 | 11.0 | 4.0
North Dakota ...................| 3.2 | 4.2 | 1.0
Ohio ...........................| 6.9 | 10.5 | 3.6
Oklahoma .......................| 4.2 | 7.1 | 2.9
Oregon .........................| 7.2 | 11.3 | 4.1
Pennsylvania ...................| 5.8 | 8.8 | 3.0
Rhode Island ...................| 8.8 | 12.9 | 4.1
| | |
South Carolina .................| 7.8 | 12.1 | 4.3
South Dakota ...................| 3.2 | 5.0 | 1.8
Tennessee ......................| 6.9 | 10.5 | 3.6
Texas ..........................| 5.3 | 8.3 | 3.0
Utah ...........................| 3.5 | 6.5 | 3.0
Vermont ........................| 4.9 | 6.5 | 1.6
Virginia .......................| 4.3 | 6.6 | 2.3
Washington .....................| 5.9 | 9.3 | 3.4
West Virginia ..................| 4.3 | 8.5 | 4.2
Wisconsin ......................| 4.9 | 8.4 | 3.5
Wyoming ........................| 3.2 | 7.4 | 4.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
September 2009 to October 2009, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| September | October | Over-the-month
State | 2009 | 2009(p) | change(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
California....................| 14,173,300 | 14,199,000 | 25,700
District of Columbia..........| 706,300 | 711,700 | 5,400
Michigan......................| 3,821,300 | 3,859,900 | 38,600
Montana.......................| 437,100 | 440,300 | 3,200
Oklahoma......................| 1,549,700 | 1,558,500 | 8,800
Texas.........................| 10,306,200 | 10,347,900 | 41,700
Wyoming.......................| 287,400 | 284,800 | -2,600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
October 2008 to October 2009, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| October | October | Over-the-year
State | 2008 | 2009(p) | change(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................| 1,996,900 | 1,901,600 | -95,300
Arizona.......................| 2,586,500 | 2,409,000 | -177,500
Arkansas......................| 1,205,000 | 1,176,500 | -28,500
California....................| 14,886,700 | 14,199,000 | -687,700
Colorado......................| 2,341,700 | 2,241,100 | -100,600
Connecticut...................| 1,695,100 | 1,624,000 | -71,100
Delaware......................| 429,500 | 411,400 | -18,100
Florida.......................| 7,679,800 | 7,340,200 | -339,600
Georgia.......................| 4,067,800 | 3,839,800 | -228,000
Hawaii........................| 614,200 | 591,000 | -23,200
| | |
Idaho.........................| 644,300 | 610,300 | -34,000
Illinois......................| 5,921,900 | 5,635,600 | -286,300
Indiana.......................| 2,955,000 | 2,802,400 | -152,600
Iowa..........................| 1,522,400 | 1,479,200 | -43,200
Kansas........................| 1,391,500 | 1,333,700 | -57,800
Kentucky......................| 1,844,800 | 1,762,900 | -81,900
Louisiana.....................| 1,949,900 | 1,905,900 | -44,000
Maine.........................| 610,900 | 591,200 | -19,700
Maryland......................| 2,587,800 | 2,536,600 | -51,200
Massachusetts.................| 3,276,900 | 3,175,400 | -101,500
| | |
Michigan......................| 4,122,600 | 3,859,900 | -262,700
Minnesota.....................| 2,754,800 | 2,645,200 | -109,600
Mississippi...................| 1,138,000 | 1,104,400 | -33,600
Missouri......................| 2,792,000 | 2,714,500 | -77,500
Nevada........................| 1,249,300 | 1,174,800 | -74,500
New Hampshire.................| 644,800 | 628,500 | -16,300
New Jersey....................| 4,037,400 | 3,918,000 | -119,400
New Mexico....................| 846,300 | 818,900 | -27,400
New York......................| 8,791,500 | 8,549,000 | -242,500
North Carolina................| 4,117,700 | 3,931,900 | -185,800
| | |
Ohio..........................| 5,341,600 | 5,098,400 | -243,200
Oklahoma......................| 1,601,900 | 1,558,500 | -43,400
Oregon........................| 1,705,600 | 1,616,200 | -89,400
Pennsylvania..................| 5,798,800 | 5,613,800 | -185,000
Rhode Island..................| 477,400 | 456,600 | -20,800
South Carolina................| 1,904,200 | 1,844,200 | -60,000
South Dakota..................| 412,200 | 404,400 | -7,800
Tennessee.....................| 2,758,200 | 2,647,600 | -110,600
Texas.........................| 10,655,100 | 10,347,900 | -307,200
Utah..........................| 1,254,700 | 1,207,600 | -47,100
| | |
Vermont.......................| 305,300 | 294,600 | -10,700
Virginia......................| 3,733,400 | 3,644,400 | -89,000
Washington....................| 2,927,800 | 2,842,100 | -85,700
West Virginia.................| 762,900 | 740,700 | -22,200
Wisconsin.....................| 2,864,200 | 2,735,400 | -128,800
Wyoming.......................| 301,500 | 284,800 | -16,700
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
