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Nineteen states had jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 7.6 percent, June 2013

July 23, 2013

In June 2013, a total of 19 states had jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 7.6 percent, 9 states and the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 22 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. Nevada had the highest unemployment rate among states (9.6 percent). North Dakota again had the lowest jobless rate (3.1 percent).

Unemployment rates by state, seasonally adjusted, June 2013 (U.S. rate = 7.6 percent)
Unemployment rates by state, seasonally adjusted, June 2013 (U.S. rate = 7.6 percent)
StateUnemployment rate (p)Difference from U.S. unemployment rate

Alabama

6.5Not statistically different

Alaska

6.1Statistically significant, below

Arizona

8.0Not statistically different

Arkansas

7.3Not statistically different

California

8.5Statistically significant, above

Colorado

7.0Not statistically different

Connecticut

8.1Not statistically different

Delaware

7.3Not statistically different

District of Columbia

8.5Statistically significant, above

Florida

7.1Not statistically different

Georgia

8.6Statistically significant, above

Hawaii

4.6Statistically significant, below

Idaho

6.4Statistically significant, below

Illinois

9.2Statistically significant, above

Indiana

8.4Not statistically different

Iowa

4.6Statistically significant, below

Kansas

5.8Statistically significant, below

Kentucky

8.4Not statistically different

Louisiana

7.0Not statistically different

Maine

6.8Not statistically different

Maryland

7.0Not statistically different

Massachusetts

7.0Not statistically different

Michigan

8.7Statistically significant, above

Minnesota

5.2Statistically significant, below

Mississippi

9.0Statistically significant, above

Missouri

6.9Not statistically different

Montana

5.4Statistically significant, below

Nebraska

4.0Statistically significant, below

Nevada

9.6Statistically significant, above

New Hampshire

5.2Statistically significant, below

New Jersey

8.7Statistically significant, above

New Mexico

6.8Not statistically different

New York

7.5Not statistically different

North Carolina

8.8Statistically significant, above

North Dakota

3.1Statistically significant, below

Ohio

7.2Not statistically different

Oklahoma

5.2Statistically significant, below

Oregon

7.9Not statistically different

Pennsylvania

7.5Not statistically different

Rhode Island

8.9Statistically significant, above

South Carolina

8.1Not statistically different

South Dakota

3.9Statistically significant, below

Tennessee

8.5Not statistically different

Texas

6.5Statistically significant, below

Utah

4.7Statistically significant, below

Vermont

4.4Statistically significant, below

Virginia

5.5Statistically significant, below

Washington

6.8Not statistically different

West Virginia

6.1Statistically significant, below

Wisconsin

6.8Statistically significant, below

Wyoming

4.6Statistically significant, below

Footnotes:
(p) Preliminary.
 

Washington, 6.8%Oregon, 7.9%California, 8.5%Idaho, 6.4%Nevada, 9.6%Montana, 5.4%Wyoming, 4.6%Utah, 4.7%Arizona, 8.0%Colorado, 7.0%New Mexico, 6.8%North Dakota, 3.1%South Dakota, 3.9%Nebraska, 4.0%Kansas, 5.8%Oklahoma, 5.2%Texas, 6.5%Louisiana, 7.0%Arkansas, 7.3%Missouri, 6.9%Iowa, 4.6%Minnesota, 5.2%Alaska, 6.1%Hawaii, 4.6%Kentucky, 8.4%Tennessee, 8.5%Mississippi, 9.0%Alabama, 6.5%Florida, 7.1%Georgia, 8.6%South Carolina, 8.1%North Carolina, 8.8%Virginia, 5.5%District of Columbia, 8.5%West Virginia, 6.1%Maryland, 7.0%Delaware, 7.3%Wisconsin, 6.8%Illinois, 9.2%Michigan, 8.7%Indiana, 8.4%Ohio, 7.2%Pennsylvania, 7.5%New Jersey, 8.7%New York, 7.5%Connecticut, 8.1%Rhode Island, 8.9%Massachusetts, 7.0%Vermont, 4.4%New Hampshire, 5.2%Maine, 6.8%

 

Over the month, 8 states had statistically significant unemployment rate changes in June, of which seven were increases. The significant increases occurred in Massachusetts (+0.4 percentage point); Georgia, Maryland, and Vermont (+0.3 point each); and Idaho, Nebraska, and Virginia (+0.2 point each). The only significant decrease was in North Dakota (−0.1 percentage point).

From June 2012 to June 2013, fifteen states had statistically significant changes, all of which were declines.  The largest decline occurred in California (−2.1 percentage points), followed by Nevada (−1.8 points), and Florida and Rhode Island (−1.7 percentage points each).

Among the nine geographic divisions, the East North Central had the highest jobless rate, 8.2 percent in June. The West North Central again had the lowest rate, 5.4 percent. No division had a statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate change. Four divisions had significant rate changes from a year earlier: the Pacific (−1.9 percentage points), South Atlantic (−1.0 point), and Middle Atlantic and Mountain (−0.9 point each).

These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. Data for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see "Regional and State Employment and Unemployment — June 2013" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL‑13‑1346.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Nineteen states had jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 7.6 percent, June 2013 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2013/ted_20130723.htm (visited March 19, 2024).

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