For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, November 19, 2024 USDL-24-2362
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
STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- OCTOBER 2024
Unemployment rates were lower in October in 3 states, higher in 1 state, and stable in 46
states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Twenty-four states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 6 states
had decreases, and 20 states had little change. The national unemployment rate was unchanged
over the month at 4.1 percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in October 2023.
Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 2 states and was essentially unchanged in 48 states
and the District of Columbia in October 2024. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment
increased in 27 states and was essentially unchanged in 23 states and the District.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and
unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to
individuals by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that
measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on
payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information about the
concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Hurricanes and Strike Activity |
| |
| October data from the household and establishment surveys are the first collected since |
| Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck the United States. These hurricanes caused severe |
| damage in the southeast portion of the country. Also, strike activity in the manufacturing |
| industry kept a substantial number of workers off payrolls during the establishment survey |
| reference period. See the note at the end of this news release for more information. |
|____________________________________________________________________________________________|
Unemployment
South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in October, 1.9 percent. The District of Columbia and
Nevada had the highest unemployment rates, 5.7 percent each. In total, 24 states had unemployment
rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.1 percent, 3 states and the District had higher rates,
and 23 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See
tables A and 1.)
In October, three states had unemployment rate decreases: Connecticut and Delaware (-0.2
percentage point each) and South Dakota (-0.1 point). Iowa had the only rate increase (+0.1
percentage point). Forty-six states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that were
not notably 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.)
Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from October
2023, the largest of which was in South Carolina (+1.7 percentage points). Six states had
over-the-year rate decreases, the largest of which was in Connecticut (-1.2 percentage points).
Twenty states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier,
though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.
(See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 2 states and was essentially unchanged in 48 states
and the District of Columbia in October 2024. Job losses occurred in Florida (-38,000, or -0.4
percent) and Washington (-35,900, or -1.0 percent). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 27 states and was essentially unchanged
in 23 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+274,600),
California (+212,100), and New York (+133,600). The largest percentage increase occurred in
Idaho (+3.1 percent), followed by Missouri and South Carolina (+2.7 percent each). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for October is scheduled to
be released on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and
Unemployment news release for November is scheduled to be released on Friday, December 20,
2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
____________________________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Hurricanes and Strike Activity |
| |
| Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 26, 2024, and then |
| tracked north into several other states. This was before the October reference periods |
| for both the household and establishment surveys. |
| |
| Hurricane Milton struck Florida on October 9, 2024, during the reference periods for both |
| surveys. Prior to the storm’s landfall, there were large-scale evacuations of Florida |
| residents. |
| |
| In October, the household survey was conducted largely according to standard procedures, |
| and response rates were within normal ranges for the affected states. |
| |
| The initial establishment survey collection rate for October was well below average. |
| However, collection rates were similar in storm-affected areas and unaffected areas. |
| A larger influence on the October collection rate for establishment data was the timing |
| and length of the collection period. This period, which can range from 10 to 16 days, |
| lasted 10 days in October and was completed several days before the end of the month. |
| |
| No changes were made to either the establishment or household survey estimation procedures |
| for the October data. It is likely that payroll employment estimates in some states were |
| affected by the hurricanes; however, it is not possible to quantify the net effect on the |
| over-the-month change in employment, hours, or earnings estimates because the |
| establishment survey is not designed to isolate effects from extreme weather events. |
| |
| For information on how unusually severe weather can affect employment and hours estimates, |
| see question 8 in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Employment Situation news |
| release at www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.faq.htm. |
| |
| New strike activity in the manufacturing sector began in September. It is likely that |
| October payroll employment estimates in some states were affected by the strike activity; |
| however, it is not possible to quantify the net effect on the over-the-month change in |
| employment, hours, or earnings estimates. The Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey |
| is not designed to isolate effects from strikes. |
| |
| For more information on current strike activity, see the CES Strike Report at |
| www.bls.gov/ces/publications/strike-report.htm. |
|____________________________________________________________________________________________|
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., October 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 4.1
|
Alabama .............................| 2.9
Arkansas ............................| 3.3
California ..........................| 5.4
Connecticut .........................| 3.0
District of Columbia ................| 5.7
Florida .............................| 3.3
Hawaii ..............................| 2.9
Illinois ............................| 5.3
Iowa ................................| 3.0
Kansas ..............................| 3.4
|
Maine ...............................| 2.9
Maryland ............................| 3.0
Minnesota ...........................| 3.4
Mississippi .........................| 2.9
Montana .............................| 3.3
Nebraska ............................| 2.7
Nevada ..............................| 5.7
New Hampshire .......................| 2.5
North Dakota ........................| 2.4
Oklahoma ............................| 3.3
|
Pennsylvania ........................| 3.4
South Dakota ........................| 1.9
Tennessee ...........................| 3.3
Utah ................................| 3.5
Vermont .............................| 2.3
Virginia ............................| 2.9
Wisconsin ...........................| 2.9
Wyoming .............................| 3.2
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from September 2024 to October 2024, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | September | October | change(p)
| 2024 | 2024(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut ....................| 3.2 | 3.0 | -0.2
Delaware .......................| 4.2 | 4.0 | -.2
Iowa ...........................| 2.9 | 3.0 | .1
South Dakota ...................| 2.0 | 1.9 | -.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from October 2023 to October 2024, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | October | October | change(p)
| 2023 | 2024(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ........................| 4.2 | 3.6 | -0.6
Arkansas .......................| 3.7 | 3.3 | -.4
California .....................| 5.1 | 5.4 | .3
Colorado .......................| 3.3 | 4.1 | .8
Connecticut ....................| 4.2 | 3.0 | -1.2
District of Columbia ...........| 4.9 | 5.7 | .8
Florida ........................| 3.1 | 3.3 | .2
Georgia ........................| 3.2 | 3.6 | .4
Idaho ..........................| 3.3 | 3.7 | .4
Illinois .......................| 4.8 | 5.3 | .5
| | |
Indiana ........................| 3.5 | 4.4 | .9
Kansas .........................| 2.6 | 3.4 | .8
Kentucky .......................| 4.3 | 5.0 | .7
Maine ..........................| 3.4 | 2.9 | -.5
Maryland .......................| 2.3 | 3.0 | .7
Massachusetts ..................| 3.4 | 3.9 | .5
Michigan .......................| 4.2 | 4.7 | .5
Minnesota ......................| 2.8 | 3.4 | .6
Missouri .......................| 3.3 | 3.8 | .5
Nebraska .......................| 2.5 | 2.7 | .2
| | |
Nevada .........................| 5.3 | 5.7 | .4
New York .......................| 4.6 | 4.4 | -.2
North Dakota ...................| 1.9 | 2.4 | .5
Ohio ...........................| 3.6 | 4.3 | .7
Rhode Island ...................| 3.4 | 4.6 | 1.2
South Carolina .................| 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.7
Texas ..........................| 3.9 | 4.1 | .2
Utah ...........................| 2.8 | 3.5 | .7
Washington .....................| 4.4 | 4.7 | .3
Wisconsin ......................| 3.4 | 2.9 | -.5
Wyoming ........................| 2.9 | 3.2 | .3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
September 2024 to October 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | September | October |---------------------------
| 2024 | 2024(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida ......................| 9,984,000 | 9,946,000 | -38,000 | -0.4
Washington ...................| 3,668,500 | 3,632,600 | -35,900 | -1.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
October 2023 to October 2024, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | October | October |---------------------------
| 2023 | 2024(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 2,170,500 | 2,213,500 | 43,000 | 2.0
Alaska .......................| 332,400 | 339,500 | 7,100 | 2.1
Arizona ......................| 3,208,700 | 3,276,500 | 67,800 | 2.1
Arkansas .....................| 1,354,400 | 1,376,100 | 21,700 | 1.6
California ...................| 17,878,100 | 18,090,200 | 212,100 | 1.2
Colorado .....................| 2,960,300 | 3,019,800 | 59,500 | 2.0
Florida ......................| 9,812,800 | 9,946,000 | 133,200 | 1.4
Georgia ......................| 4,920,600 | 4,985,500 | 64,900 | 1.3
Idaho ........................| 855,200 | 881,500 | 26,300 | 3.1
Indiana ......................| 3,252,600 | 3,305,300 | 52,700 | 1.6
| | | |
Kansas .......................| 1,446,200 | 1,467,100 | 20,900 | 1.4
Michigan .....................| 4,440,100 | 4,493,500 | 53,400 | 1.2
Minnesota ....................| 2,997,200 | 3,031,800 | 34,600 | 1.2
Missouri .....................| 2,989,200 | 3,070,900 | 81,700 | 2.7
Montana ......................| 522,900 | 535,800 | 12,900 | 2.5
Nebraska .....................| 1,055,700 | 1,078,100 | 22,400 | 2.1
New York .....................| 9,737,500 | 9,871,100 | 133,600 | 1.4
North Carolina ...............| 4,949,000 | 5,024,800 | 75,800 | 1.5
Ohio .........................| 5,629,000 | 5,682,000 | 53,000 | .9
Oklahoma .....................| 1,761,600 | 1,790,100 | 28,500 | 1.6
| | | |
Pennsylvania .................| 6,106,900 | 6,204,700 | 97,800 | 1.6
South Carolina ...............| 2,328,600 | 2,390,400 | 61,800 | 2.7
Tennessee ....................| 3,295,800 | 3,341,000 | 45,200 | 1.4
Texas ........................| 14,001,700 | 14,276,300 | 274,600 | 2.0
Utah .........................| 1,738,500 | 1,771,100 | 32,600 | 1.9
Vermont ......................| 309,000 | 316,600 | 7,600 | 2.5
Virginia .....................| 4,182,500 | 4,250,300 | 67,800 | 1.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
