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Economic News Release
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Regional and State Unemployment (Annual) News Release

For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, March 3, 2010         USDL-10-0231

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact:         (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov


          REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT -- 2009 ANNUAL AVERAGES


Annual average unemployment rates rose in 2009 in all regions, divisions,
and states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-
population ratios decreased across all of these geographic areas as well.
The U.S. jobless rate jumped by 3.5 percentage points from the prior year
to 9.3 percent, while the national employment-population ratio fell by 2.9
points to 59.3 percent.

Regional Unemployment

All four regions posted statistically significant unemployment rate in-
creases from 2008. The West experienced the greatest jump (+3.8 percentage
points), followed by the Midwest (+3.6 points), South (+3.4 points), and
Northeast (+3.0 points). The West, at 10.1 percent, and Midwest, at 9.6
percent, registered jobless rates significantly higher than the U.S. rate
in 2009. The Northeast and South, at 8.4 and 8.9 percent, respectively,
both had rates significantly below the national figure. In 2009, the West
recorded the highest annual jobless rate in its series. (All region, divi-
sion, and state series begin in 1976.) (See table 1.)

All nine geographic divisions also reported statistically significant over-
the-year unemployment rate increases in 2009, with the largest occurring in
the Pacific and East North Central (+4.1 and +4.0 percentage points, respec-
tively). The divisions with the smallest rate increases were the West North
Central (+2.4 percentage points) and West South Central (+2.6 points). Three
divisions registered unemployment rates over 10.0 percent: the Pacific divi-
sion posted the highest rate, 10.9 percent, followed by the East North Central,
10.6 percent, and the East South Central, 10.2 percent--all three rates were
significantly above the U.S. rate. The divisions with the lowest jobless rates
last year were the West North Central, 7.3 percent, and West South Central,
7.4 percent. In addition to these two, the Middle Atlantic, Mountain, and New
England divisions had rates significantly below the national figure. Two divi-
sions reported the highest jobless rates in their series in 2009: the Pacific,
10.9 percent, and South Atlantic, 9.5 percent.

State Unemployment

All 50 states and the District of Columbia posted statistically significant
unemployment rate increases in 2009. Michigan and Nevada experienced the
largest increases in their jobless rates (+5.3 and +5.1 percentage points,
respectively). Seven additional states recorded rate jumps of at least 4.0
percentage points. (See table A.)

In 2009, 14 states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rates
of 10.0 percent or more. Michigan posted the highest unemployment rate for
the fourth year in a row, 13.6 percent, followed by Nevada, 11.8 percent,
and South Carolina, 11.7 percent. North Dakota registered the lowest job-
less rate among the states, 4.3 percent, with Nebraska and South Dakota
close behind at 4.6 and 4.8 percent, respectively. Thirty states had unem-
ployment rates that were significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 9.3 per-
cent, and 13 states and the District of Columbia recorded rates signifi-
cantly above it. Nine states reported the highest jobless rates in their
annual series: California (11.4 percent), Delaware (8.1 percent), Florida
(10.5 percent), Georgia (9.6 percent), Kansas (6.7 percent), Nevada (11.8
percent), North Carolina (10.6 percent), Rhode Island (11.2 percent), and
South Carolina (11.7 percent). (See table B.)

Regional Employment-Population Ratios

In 2009, all four regions registered statistically significant deteriora-
tion in their employment-population ratios--the proportion of the civi-
lian noninstitutional population 16 years and older with a job. The West
experienced the largest over-the-year decrease in its employment-popula-
tion ratio (-3.3 percentage points), followed by the Midwest (-3.1 points),
South (-2.7 points), and Northeast (-2.2 points). Despite the large decline
in its employment-population ratio, the Midwest continued to report the
highest ratio, 60.8 percent, while the South, at 58.3 percent, recorded the
lowest. These two regions had employment-population ratios that were signi-
ficantly different from the national figure of 59.3 percent. (See table 2.)

All nine divisions registered statistically significant decreases in their
employment-population ratios in 2009. The East North Central reported the
greatest drop (-3.5 percentage points), followed by the Pacific and South
Atlantic (-3.3 points each) and East South Central and Mountain (-3.2 points
each). In 2009, the East South Central again recorded the lowest proportion
of employed persons, 54.4 percent, with the South Atlantic and Pacific posting
the next lowest, 58.4 and 58.5 percent, respectively. All were significantly
below the national average. The divisions with the highest employment-popula-
tion ratios were the West North Central, 65.2 percent, and New England, 62.0
percent. The Mountain division also recorded an employment-population ratio
significantly above the U.S. figure.

State Employment-Population Ratios

In 2009, all 50 states and the District of Columbia registered statistically
significant decreases in their proportions of employed persons. Four states
and the District of Columbia reported drops of 4.0 percentage points or more:
Alabama (-4.4 points), Indiana and Michigan (-4.3 points), North Carolina (-4.1
points), and the District of Columbia (-4.0 points). Sixteen other states re-
corded declines in their employment-population ratios of -3.0 to -3.9 percent-
age points, 20 states had decreases of -2.0 to -2.9 points, and the remaining
10 states had declines of -1.0 to -1.9 points. 

West Virginia again reported the lowest employment-population ratio among the
states (50.5 percent), which it has done for 34 consecutive years. Almost half
(24) of the states had employment-population ratios in 2009 that were below 
60.0 percent, while no state registered a ratio of 70.0 percent or higher last
year. Three states in the West North Central division again posted the highest
ratios: North Dakota (69.4 percent) and Nebraska and South Dakota (68.9 percent
each). Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia recorded employment-pop-
ulation ratios that were significantly above the U.S. ratio of 59.3 percent, 
and 16 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. The remaining 12 states
reported ratios that were not measurably different from that of the nation. Four
states registered the lowest employment-population ratios in their series in
2009: Hawaii (59.9 percent), Nevada (60.4 percent), North Carolina (57.0 per-
cent), and South Carolina (55.0 percent). (See tables C and D.)

____________
The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for January
2010 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.
(EST). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for
January 2010 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 19, 2010, at
10:00 a.m. (EDT).



Table A.  States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes,
2008-09 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Rate           |               
                                |-------------------------| Over-the-year 
             State              |            |            |  rate change  
                                |    2008    |    2009    |               
--------------------------------|------------|------------|---------------
Alabama ........................|     5.2    |    10.1    |      4.9      
Alaska .........................|     6.5    |     8.0    |      1.5      
Arizona ........................|     5.9    |     9.1    |      3.2      
Arkansas .......................|     5.2    |     7.3    |      2.1      
California .....................|     7.2    |    11.4    |      4.2      
Colorado .......................|     4.9    |     7.7    |      2.8      
Connecticut ....................|     5.6    |     8.2    |      2.6      
Delaware .......................|     4.9    |     8.1    |      3.2      
District of Columbia ...........|     6.6    |    10.2    |      3.6      
Florida ........................|     6.3    |    10.5    |      4.2      
                                |            |            |               
Georgia ........................|     6.2    |     9.6    |      3.4      
Hawaii .........................|     4.0    |     6.8    |      2.8      
Idaho ..........................|     4.9    |     8.0    |      3.1      
Illinois .......................|     6.4    |    10.1    |      3.7      
Indiana ........................|     5.8    |    10.1    |      4.3      
Iowa ...........................|     4.4    |     6.0    |      1.6      
Kansas .........................|     4.4    |     6.7    |      2.3      
Kentucky .......................|     6.6    |    10.5    |      3.9      
Louisiana ......................|     4.5    |     6.8    |      2.3      
Maine ..........................|     5.3    |     8.0    |      2.7      
                                |            |            |               
Maryland .......................|     4.4    |     7.0    |      2.6      
Massachusetts ..................|     5.3    |     8.4    |      3.1      
Michigan .......................|     8.3    |    13.6    |      5.3      
Minnesota ......................|     5.4    |     8.0    |      2.6      
Mississippi ....................|     6.8    |     9.6    |      2.8      
Missouri .......................|     6.1    |     9.3    |      3.2      
Montana ........................|     4.6    |     6.2    |      1.6      
Nebraska .......................|     3.3    |     4.6    |      1.3      
Nevada .........................|     6.7    |    11.8    |      5.1      
New Hampshire ..................|     3.9    |     6.3    |      2.4      
                                |            |            |               
New Jersey .....................|     5.5    |     9.2    |      3.7      
New Mexico .....................|     4.5    |     7.2    |      2.7      
New York .......................|     5.3    |     8.4    |      3.1      
North Carolina .................|     6.2    |    10.6    |      4.4      
North Dakota ...................|     3.2    |     4.3    |      1.1      
Ohio ...........................|     6.6    |    10.2    |      3.6      
Oklahoma .......................|     3.7    |     6.4    |      2.7      
Oregon .........................|     6.5    |    11.1    |      4.6      
Pennsylvania ...................|     5.3    |     8.1    |      2.8      
Rhode Island ...................|     7.6    |    11.2    |      3.6      
                                |            |            |               
South Carolina .................|     6.9    |    11.7    |      4.8      
South Dakota ...................|     3.1    |     4.8    |      1.7      
Tennessee ......................|     6.7    |    10.5    |      3.8      
Texas ..........................|     4.9    |     7.6    |      2.7      
Utah ...........................|     3.7    |     6.6    |      2.9      
Vermont ........................|     4.5    |     6.9    |      2.4      
Virginia .......................|     3.9    |     6.7    |      2.8      
Washington .....................|     5.4    |     8.9    |      3.5      
West Virginia ..................|     4.3    |     7.9    |      3.6      
Wisconsin ......................|     4.8    |     8.5    |      3.7      
Wyoming ........................|     3.2    |     6.4    |      3.2      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------



Table B.  States with unemployment rates significantly differ-
ent from that of the U.S., 2009 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------
                State                |          Rate          
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States .......................|           9.3          
                                     |                        
Alaska ..............................|           8.0          
Arkansas ............................|           7.3          
California ..........................|          11.4          
Colorado ............................|           7.7          
Connecticut .........................|           8.2          
Delaware ............................|           8.1          
District of Columbia ................|          10.2          
Florida .............................|          10.5          
Hawaii ..............................|           6.8          
Idaho ...............................|           8.0          
                                     |                        
Illinois ............................|          10.1          
Indiana .............................|          10.1          
Iowa ................................|           6.0          
Kansas ..............................|           6.7          
Kentucky ............................|          10.5          
Louisiana ...........................|           6.8          
Maine ...............................|           8.0          
Maryland ............................|           7.0          
Massachusetts .......................|           8.4          
Michigan ............................|          13.6          
                                     |                        
Minnesota ...........................|           8.0          
Montana .............................|           6.2          
Nebraska ............................|           4.6          
Nevada ..............................|          11.8          
New Hampshire .......................|           6.3          
New Mexico ..........................|           7.2          
New York ............................|           8.4          
North Carolina ......................|          10.6          
North Dakota ........................|           4.3          
Ohio ................................|          10.2          
                                     |                        
Oklahoma ............................|           6.4          
Oregon ..............................|          11.1          
Pennsylvania ........................|           8.1          
Rhode Island ........................|          11.2          
South Carolina ......................|          11.7          
South Dakota ........................|           4.8          
Tennessee ...........................|          10.5          
Texas ...............................|           7.6          
Utah ................................|           6.6          
Vermont .............................|           6.9          
                                     |                        
Virginia ............................|           6.7          
West Virginia .......................|           7.9          
Wisconsin ...........................|           8.5          
Wyoming .............................|           6.4          
--------------------------------------------------------------



Table C.  States with statistically significant employment-population
ratio changes, 2008-09 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Ratio          |               
                                |-------------------------| Over-the-year 
             State              |            |            | ratio change  
                                |    2008    |    2009    |               
--------------------------------|------------|------------|---------------
Alabama ........................|    56.8    |    52.4    |      -4.4     
Alaska .........................|    66.5    |    64.5    |      -2.0     
Arizona ........................|    60.3    |    57.7    |      -2.6     
Arkansas .......................|    59.6    |    57.6    |      -2.0     
California .....................|    61.2    |    57.7    |      -3.5     
Colorado .......................|    68.8    |    64.9    |      -3.9     
Connecticut ....................|    64.7    |    63.1    |      -1.6     
Delaware .......................|    61.8    |    58.2    |      -3.6     
District of Columbia ...........|    65.1    |    61.1    |      -4.0     
Florida ........................|    59.6    |    56.4    |      -3.2     
                                |            |            |               
Georgia ........................|    63.0    |    59.1    |      -3.9     
Hawaii .........................|    62.9    |    59.9    |      -3.0     
Idaho ..........................|    63.6    |    60.1    |      -3.5     
Illinois .......................|    63.6    |    60.1    |      -3.5     
Indiana ........................|    62.6    |    58.3    |      -4.3     
Iowa ...........................|    69.3    |    67.5    |      -1.8     
Kansas .........................|    67.6    |    66.6    |      -1.0     
Kentucky .......................|    57.8    |    56.0    |      -1.8     
Louisiana ......................|    58.8    |    56.7    |      -2.1     
Maine ..........................|    62.8    |    60.8    |      -2.0     
                                |            |            |               
Maryland .......................|    66.3    |    63.0    |      -3.3     
Massachusetts ..................|    63.3    |    60.7    |      -2.6     
Michigan .......................|    58.6    |    54.3    |      -4.3     
Minnesota ......................|    68.7    |    66.9    |      -1.8     
Mississippi ....................|    55.3    |    53.1    |      -2.2     
Missouri .......................|    62.5    |    59.7    |      -2.8     
Montana ........................|    64.2    |    61.1    |      -3.1     
Nebraska .......................|    71.1    |    68.9    |      -2.2     
Nevada .........................|    63.6    |    60.4    |      -3.2     
New Hampshire ..................|    68.0    |    65.8    |      -2.2     
                                |            |            |               
New Jersey .....................|    63.2    |    60.7    |      -2.5     
New Mexico .....................|    61.0    |    58.3    |      -2.7     
New York .......................|    59.9    |    57.8    |      -2.1     
North Carolina .................|    61.1    |    57.0    |      -4.1     
North Dakota ...................|    70.8    |    69.4    |      -1.4     
Ohio ...........................|    62.6    |    59.7    |      -2.9     
Oklahoma .......................|    61.4    |    59.7    |      -1.7     
Oregon .........................|    61.4    |    58.1    |      -3.3     
Pennsylvania ...................|    61.6    |    59.3    |      -2.3     
Rhode Island ...................|    63.0    |    60.1    |      -2.9     
                                |            |            |               
South Carolina .................|    57.9    |    55.0    |      -2.9     
South Dakota ...................|    70.8    |    68.9    |      -1.9     
Tennessee ......................|    59.0    |    55.5    |      -3.5     
Texas ..........................|    62.3    |    60.9    |      -1.4     
Utah ...........................|    68.1    |    64.6    |      -3.5     
Vermont ........................|    67.8    |    66.2    |      -1.6     
Virginia .......................|    66.8    |    64.8    |      -2.0     
Washington .....................|    64.7    |    62.2    |      -2.5     
West Virginia ..................|    53.4    |    50.5    |      -2.9     
Wisconsin ......................|    66.9    |    63.9    |      -3.0     
Wyoming ........................|    69.4    |    66.0    |      -3.4     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------



Table D.  States with employment-population ratios significantly
different from that of the U.S., 2009 annual averages
----------------------------------------------------------------
                State                |          Ratio           
----------------------------------------------------------------
United States .......................|           59.3           
                                     |                          
Alabama .............................|           52.4           
Alaska ..............................|           64.5           
Arizona .............................|           57.7           
Arkansas ............................|           57.6           
California ..........................|           57.7           
Colorado ............................|           64.9           
Connecticut .........................|           63.1           
Delaware ............................|           58.2           
District of Columbia ................|           61.1           
Florida .............................|           56.4           
                                     |                          
Iowa ................................|           67.5           
Kansas ..............................|           66.6           
Kentucky ............................|           56.0           
Louisiana ...........................|           56.7           
Maine ...............................|           60.8           
Maryland ............................|           63.0           
Massachusetts .......................|           60.7           
Michigan ............................|           54.3           
Minnesota ...........................|           66.9           
Mississippi .........................|           53.1           
                                     |                          
Montana .............................|           61.1           
Nebraska ............................|           68.9           
New Hampshire .......................|           65.8           
New Jersey ..........................|           60.7           
New York ............................|           57.8           
North Carolina ......................|           57.0           
North Dakota ........................|           69.4           
Oregon ..............................|           58.1           
South Carolina ......................|           55.0           
South Dakota ........................|           68.9           
                                     |                          
Tennessee ...........................|           55.5           
Texas ...............................|           60.9           
Utah ................................|           64.6           
Vermont .............................|           66.2           
Virginia ............................|           64.8           
Washington ..........................|           62.2           
West Virginia .......................|           50.5           
Wisconsin ...........................|           63.9           
Wyoming .............................|           66.0           
----------------------------------------------------------------




Table 1.  Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state,
2008-09 annual averages
 
(Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                     
                                    Population      Civilian labor       Employed         Unemployed     Unemployment                
                                                        force                                                rate      Error range of
  Region, division, and state                                                                                          rate, 2009 (1)
                                                                                                                                     
                                  2008     2009     2008     2009     2008     2009      2008     2009    2008   2009                
                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                     
     United States.............  233,788  235,801  154,287  154,142  145,362  139,877    8,924   14,265    5.8    9.3    9.2  -   9.3

Northeast......................   43,280   43,565   28,325   28,387   26,809   25,995    1,516    2,392    5.4    8.4    8.2  -   8.6
   New England.................   11,363   11,450    7,710    7,737    7,297    7,096      413      641    5.4    8.3    8.0  -   8.6
      Connecticut..............    2,727    2,748    1,870    1,890    1,766    1,734      104      156    5.6    8.2    7.7  -   8.8
      Maine....................    1,063    1,066      705      704      668      647       38       57    5.3    8.0    7.5  -   8.6
      Massachusetts............    5,185    5,237    3,465    3,473    3,282    3,181      183      293    5.3    8.4    7.8  -   9.0
      New Hampshire............    1,050    1,056      743      742      714      695       29       47    3.9    6.3    5.9  -   6.7
      Rhode Island.............      835      837      570      567      526      503       43       64    7.6   11.2   10.5  -  11.9
      Vermont..................      504      506      357      360      341      335       16       25    4.5    6.9    6.4  -   7.4

   Middle Atlantic.............   31,917   32,115   20,615   20,650   19,512   18,899    1,102    1,751    5.3    8.5    8.2  -   8.7
      New Jersey...............    6,731    6,780    4,503    4,537    4,257    4,118      246      418    5.5    9.2    8.7  -   9.8
      New York.................   15,293   15,386    9,671    9,699    9,157    8,886      514      813    5.3    8.4    8.0  -   8.7
      Pennsylvania.............    9,892    9,948    6,441    6,414    6,099    5,895      342      519    5.3    8.1    7.7  -   8.5

Midwest........................   51,317   51,606   34,922   34,723   32,811   31,397    2,111    3,327    6.0    9.6    9.4  -   9.8
   East North Central..........   35,803   35,972   23,961   23,731   22,390   21,208    1,571    2,523    6.6   10.6   10.3  -  10.9
      Illinois.................    9,822    9,892    6,676    6,606    6,248    5,941      428      665    6.4   10.1    9.5  -  10.6
      Indiana..................    4,877    4,912    3,244    3,185    3,055    2,865      189      320    5.8   10.1    9.3  -  10.8
      Michigan.................    7,780    7,782    4,976    4,889    4,563    4,224      413      665    8.3   13.6   12.9  -  14.3
      Ohio.....................    8,939    8,970    5,985    5,970    5,592    5,359      393      611    6.6   10.2    9.7  -  10.8
      Wisconsin................    4,386    4,416    3,081    3,081    2,933    2,820      148      262    4.8    8.5    8.0  -   9.0

   West North Central..........   15,513   15,633   10,960   10,992   10,420   10,189      540      803    4.9    7.3    7.0  -   7.6
      Iowa.....................    2,317    2,330    1,678    1,674    1,605    1,574       73      100    4.4    6.0    5.5  -   6.4
      Kansas...................    2,112    2,129    1,494    1,519    1,428    1,417       66      102    4.4    6.7    6.2  -   7.2
      Minnesota................    4,046    4,081    2,938    2,968    2,780    2,732      158      236    5.4    8.0    7.5  -   8.4
      Missouri.................    4,577    4,611    3,047    3,037    2,861    2,754      186      283    6.1    9.3    8.6  -  10.0
      Nebraska.................    1,352    1,362      993      984      961      938       33       45    3.3    4.6    4.2  -   5.0
      North Dakota.............      498      503      364      365      353      349       12       16    3.2    4.3    3.9  -   4.8
      South Dakota.............      611      617      446      446      433      425       14       21    3.1    4.8    4.4  -   5.1

South..........................   85,026   86,081   54,880   55,063   51,853   50,146    3,027    4,917    5.5    8.9    8.8  -   9.1
   South Atlantic..............   45,059   45,574   29,498   29,416   27,814   26,634    1,684    2,781    5.7    9.5    9.2  -   9.7
      Delaware.................      678      687      441      435      419      400       22       35    4.9    8.1    7.5  -   8.7
      District of Columbia.....      480      488      334      332      312      298       22       34    6.6   10.2    9.5  -  11.0
      Florida..................   14,487   14,602    9,206    9,197    8,628    8,232      578      966    6.3   10.5   10.1  -  10.9
      Georgia..................    7,197    7,300    4,838    4,769    4,536    4,312      302      457    6.2    9.6    9.0  -  10.2
      Maryland.................    4,367    4,407    3,026    2,987    2,894    2,778      133      209    4.4    7.0    6.6  -   7.4
      North Carolina...........    7,019    7,129    4,570    4,545    4,287    4,061      283      484    6.2   10.6   10.1  -  11.2
      South Carolina...........    3,445    3,497    2,143    2,179    1,995    1,924      147      255    6.9   11.7   10.9  -  12.5
      Virginia.................    5,936    6,011    4,131    4,174    3,968    3,896      162      278    3.9    6.7    6.2  -   7.1
      West Virginia............    1,449    1,454      809      798      774      735       34       63    4.3    7.9    7.1  -   8.8

   East South Central..........   13,918   14,027    8,552    8,505    8,013    7,635      539      870    6.3   10.2    9.7  -  10.7
      Alabama..................    3,598    3,627    2,156    2,113    2,044    1,900      112      212    5.2   10.1    8.9  -  11.2
      Kentucky.................    3,308    3,329    2,047    2,080    1,912    1,863      135      218    6.6   10.5    9.7  -  11.2
      Mississippi..............    2,189    2,201    1,299    1,292    1,210    1,169       89      123    6.8    9.6    8.7  -  10.4
      Tennessee................    4,822    4,870    3,050    3,020    2,846    2,703      204      317    6.7   10.5    9.8  -  11.2

   West South Central..........   26,049   26,480   16,830   17,142   16,026   15,877      804    1,265    4.8    7.4    7.1  -   7.7
      Arkansas.................    2,188    2,205    1,376    1,370    1,305    1,271       72      100    5.2    7.3    6.5  -   8.0
      Louisiana................    3,360    3,397    2,067    2,068    1,975    1,926       92      141    4.5    6.8    6.0  -   7.7
      Oklahoma.................    2,748    2,778    1,751    1,773    1,687    1,660       64      114    3.7    6.4    5.8  -   7.0
      Texas....................   17,753   18,099   11,635   11,931   11,059   11,020      576      911    4.9    7.6    7.3  -   8.0

West...........................   53,578   54,323   35,761   35,818   33,517   32,206    2,244    3,612    6.3   10.1    9.9  -  10.3
   Mountain....................   16,353   16,617   11,082   11,076   10,511   10,154      570      922    5.1    8.3    8.0  -   8.6
      Arizona..................    4,868    4,951    3,117    3,143    2,934    2,858      183      284    5.9    9.1    8.3  -   9.8
      Colorado.................    3,770    3,840    2,728    2,701    2,595    2,493      132      208    4.9    7.7    7.2  -   8.2
      Idaho....................    1,132    1,147      756      750      719      690       37       60    4.9    8.0    7.2  -   8.8
      Montana..................      758      765      510      499      487      468       23       31    4.6    6.2    5.5  -   6.9
      Nevada...................    1,976    2,001    1,347    1,370    1,257    1,209       90      161    6.7   11.8   11.0  -  12.5
      New Mexico...............    1,505    1,522      961      956      918      887       43       69    4.5    7.2    6.4  -   7.9
      Utah.....................    1,934    1,973    1,368    1,364    1,317    1,275       51       90    3.7    6.6    6.0  -   7.1
      Wyoming..................      410      417      294      294      285      275        9       19    3.2    6.4    5.8  -   6.9

   Pacific.....................   37,225   37,706   24,680   24,741   23,005   22,052    1,674    2,689    6.8   10.9   10.6  -  11.1
      Alaska...................      503      515      357      361      334      332       23       29    6.5    8.0    7.2  -   8.7
      California...............   27,679   28,025   18,252   18,250   16,938   16,164    1,313    2,086    7.2   11.4   11.1  -  11.8
      Hawaii...................      985      992      646      638      620      595       26       43    4.0    6.8    6.2  -   7.3
      Oregon...................    2,970    3,008    1,949    1,964    1,823    1,747      126      217    6.5   11.1   10.4  -  11.7
      Washington...............    5,087    5,167    3,476    3,529    3,290    3,215      186      314    5.4    8.9    8.3  -   9.5

Puerto Rico....................    3,050    3,070    1,366    1,326    1,209    1,127      158      199   11.5   15.0         NA     

   1 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded data.
   NA = Data not available.
   NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Unemployment rates are in percent and are based on unrounded levels. Data for subnational
areas reflect revised population controls and model reestimation. As a result, they will not add to U.S. totals. Data for Puerto Rico
are derived from a monthly household survey similar to the Current Population Survey.




Table 2.  Employment-population ratios of persons 16 years of age and over by region, division,
and state, 2008-09 annual averages

(Percent)
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                   Employment-population                                        
                                           ratio (1)      Over-the-        Error range of       
  Region, division, and state                               year    employment-population ratio,
                                                           change             2009 (2)          
                                      2008       2009                                           
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
                                                                                                
     United States.............       62.2       59.3       -2.9          59.1    -    59.5
                                                                                           
Northeast......................       61.9       59.7       -2.2          59.2    -    60.1
   New England.................       64.2       62.0       -2.2          61.3    -    62.7
      Connecticut..............       64.7       63.1       -1.6          61.9    -    64.3
      Maine....................       62.8       60.8       -2.0          59.5    -    62.0
      Massachusetts............       63.3       60.7       -2.6          59.6    -    61.8
      New Hampshire............       68.0       65.8       -2.2          64.8    -    66.8
      Rhode Island.............       63.0       60.1       -2.9          59.0    -    61.3
      Vermont..................       67.8       66.2       -1.6          65.0    -    67.4
                                                                                           
   Middle Atlantic.............       61.1       58.8       -2.3          58.3    -    59.4
      New Jersey...............       63.2       60.7       -2.5          59.8    -    61.7
      New York.................       59.9       57.8       -2.1          57.1    -    58.4
      Pennsylvania.............       61.6       59.3       -2.3          58.4    -    60.1
                                                                                           
Midwest........................       63.9       60.8       -3.1          60.4    -    61.2
   East North Central..........       62.5       59.0       -3.5          58.4    -    59.5
      Illinois.................       63.6       60.1       -3.5          59.1    -    61.0
      Indiana..................       62.6       58.3       -4.3          56.9    -    59.8
      Michigan.................       58.6       54.3       -4.3          53.3    -    55.3
      Ohio.....................       62.6       59.7       -2.9          58.9    -    60.6
      Wisconsin................       66.9       63.9       -3.0          62.5    -    65.2
                                                                                           
   West North Central..........       67.2       65.2       -2.0          64.6    -    65.8
      Iowa.....................       69.3       67.5       -1.8          66.5    -    68.6
      Kansas...................       67.6       66.6       -1.0          65.4    -    67.7
      Minnesota................       68.7       66.9       -1.8          65.8    -    68.1
      Missouri.................       62.5       59.7       -2.8          58.4    -    61.1
      Nebraska.................       71.1       68.9       -2.2          67.7    -    70.0
      North Dakota.............       70.8       69.4       -1.4          67.7    -    71.1
      South Dakota.............       70.8       68.9       -1.9          67.7    -    70.1
                                                                                           
South..........................       61.0       58.3       -2.7          57.9    -    58.6
   South Atlantic..............       61.7       58.4       -3.3          58.0    -    58.9
      Delaware.................       61.8       58.2       -3.6          57.1    -    59.3
      District of Columbia.....       65.1       61.1       -4.0          59.9    -    62.3
      Florida..................       59.6       56.4       -3.2          55.5    -    57.3
      Georgia..................       63.0       59.1       -3.9          58.1    -    60.0
      Maryland.................       66.3       63.0       -3.3          62.1    -    63.9
      North Carolina...........       61.1       57.0       -4.1          55.9    -    58.0
      South Carolina...........       57.9       55.0       -2.9          54.0    -    56.0
      Virginia.................       66.8       64.8       -2.0          64.0    -    65.7
      West Virginia............       53.4       50.5       -2.9          48.9    -    52.2
                                                                                           
   East South Central..........       57.6       54.4       -3.2          53.6    -    55.3
      Alabama..................       56.8       52.4       -4.4          50.7    -    54.1
      Kentucky.................       57.8       56.0       -1.8          54.6    -    57.3
      Mississippi..............       55.3       53.1       -2.2          51.5    -    54.6
      Tennessee................       59.0       55.5       -3.5          54.3    -    56.7
                                                                                           
   West South Central..........       61.5       60.0       -1.5          59.3    -    60.6
      Arkansas.................       59.6       57.6       -2.0          56.4    -    58.8
      Louisiana................       58.8       56.7       -2.1          55.1    -    58.3
      Oklahoma.................       61.4       59.7       -1.7          58.4    -    61.1
      Texas....................       62.3       60.9       -1.4          60.2    -    61.6
                                                                                           
West...........................       62.6       59.3       -3.3          58.9    -    59.6
   Mountain....................       64.3       61.1       -3.2          60.5    -    61.7
      Arizona..................       60.3       57.7       -2.6          56.3    -    59.2
      Colorado.................       68.8       64.9       -3.9          63.4    -    66.4
      Idaho....................       63.6       60.1       -3.5          58.7    -    61.6
      Montana..................       64.2       61.1       -3.1          59.8    -    62.5
      Nevada...................       63.6       60.4       -3.2          59.2    -    61.6
      New Mexico...............       61.0       58.3       -2.7          57.3    -    59.3
      Utah.....................       68.1       64.6       -3.5          63.1    -    66.2
      Wyoming..................       69.4       66.0       -3.4          64.6    -    67.3
                                                                                           
   Pacific.....................       61.8       58.5       -3.3          58.1    -    58.9
      Alaska...................       66.5       64.5       -2.0          62.8    -    66.3
      California...............       61.2       57.7       -3.5          57.2    -    58.1
      Hawaii...................       62.9       59.9       -3.0          58.7    -    61.2
      Oregon...................       61.4       58.1       -3.3          57.1    -    59.1
      Washington...............       64.7       62.2       -2.5          61.2    -    63.2
                                                                                           
Puerto Rico....................       39.6       36.7       -2.9                  NA       

   1 Employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age
and over.
   2 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded
data.
   NA = Data not available.
   NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Employment-population ratios are based on
unrounded levels. Data for subnational areas reflect revised population controls and model
reestimation. Data for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to
the Current Population Survey.




Last Modified Date: March 04, 2010