For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Friday, October 22, 2021 USDL-21-1872
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 -- SEPTEMBER 2021
Unemployment rates were lower in September in 27 states and the District of
Columbia, higher in 1 state, and stable in 22 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics reported today. Forty-eight states and the District had jobless
rate decreases from a year earlier and two states were little changed. The
national unemployment rate, 4.8 percent, fell by 0.4 percentage point over
the month and was 3.0 points lower than in September 2020.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states, decreased in 3 states, and
was essentially unchanged in 36 states and the District of Columbia in
September 2021. Over the year, 47 states and the District added nonfarm
payroll jobs and 3 states were essentially unchanged.
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.
Unemployment
California and Nevada had the highest unemployment rates in September, 7.5
percent each. Nebraska and Utah had the lowest jobless rates, 2.0 percent and
2.4 percent, respectively. The rates in Georgia (3.2 percent) and Nebraska
(2.0 percent) set new series lows. (All state series begin in 1976.) In total,
19 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.8 percent,
16 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 15 states had
rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables
A and 1.)
In September, Rhode Island had the largest over-the-month unemployment rate
decrease (-0.6 percentage point), closely followed by Arizona (-0.5 point).
The next largest rate declines were in Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, and
Wyoming (-0.4 percentage point each). Massachusetts had the only jobless
rate increase (+0.2 percentage point). Twenty-two states 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.)
The largest unemployment rate decrease from September 2020 occurred in Hawaii
(-8.2 percentage points). The next largest over-the-year jobless rate decreases
were in Rhode Island (-5.7 percentage points) and Nevada (-5.5 points), with
another 11 states experiencing declines of 3.0 points or more. (See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states, decreased in 3 states, and
was essentially unchanged in 36 states and the District of Columbia in September
2021. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+95,800), Florida (+84,500),
and California (+47,400). The largest percentage increase occurred in Florida
(+1.0 percent), followed by Oklahoma and Texas (+0.8 percent each). Employment
decreased in Louisiana (-29,600, or -1.6 percent), Idaho (-4,400, or -0.6
percent), and Vermont (-2,900, or -1.0 percent). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 47 states and District
of Columbia and was essentially unchanged in 3 states. The largest job increases
occurred in California (+795,800), Texas (+711,500), and Florida (+405,900). The
largest percentage increases occurred in Hawaii (+12.9 percent), Nevada (+6.6
percent), and Texas (+5.9 percent). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for September
is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for October is scheduled
to be released on Friday, November 19, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
______________________________________________________________________________
| |
| Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on September 2021 |
| Establishment and Household Survey Data |
| |
| Data collection for both surveys was affected by the pandemic. In the |
| establishment survey, more data continued to be collected by web than |
| in months prior to the pandemic. In the household survey, for the safety |
| of both interviewers and respondents, in-person interviews were conducted |
| only when telephone interviews could not be done. |
| |
| For information on the modifications made to the Current Employment |
| Statistics (CES) estimation and methodological procedures due to the |
| impact of COVID-19, see www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesbd.htm. |
| |
| For the September 2021 estimates of household employment and unemployment |
| from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, BLS continued |
| to implement level-shift outliers in the employment and/or unemployment |
| inputs to the models, based on statistical evaluation of movements in |
| each area's inputs. These level shifts preserved movements in the |
| published estimates that the models otherwise would have discounted, |
| without requiring changes to how the models create estimates at other |
| points in the time series. |
| |
| The "Frequently asked questions" document at |
| www.bls.gov/covid19/employment-situation-covid19-faq-september-2021.htm |
| extensively discusses the impact of a misclassification in the household |
| survey on the national estimates for September 2021. Despite the |
| considerable decline in its degree relative to prior months, this |
| misclassification continued to be widespread geographically, which in |
| turn affected the official LAUS estimates for September 2021. |
| |
| Household data for Puerto Rico are not modeled, but rather are derived |
| from a monthly household survey similar to the Current Population Survey. |
| The Puerto Rico Department of Labor has reported a misclassification in |
| its household survey similar in nature to the misclassification in the |
| Current Population Survey. |
|______________________________________________________________________________|
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., September 2021, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 4.8
|
Alabama .............................| 3.1
Alaska ..............................| 6.3
Arizona .............................| 5.7
Arkansas ............................| 4.0
California ..........................| 7.5
Colorado ............................| 5.6
Connecticut .........................| 6.8
District of Columbia ................| 6.5
Georgia .............................| 3.2
Hawaii ..............................| 6.6
|
Idaho ...............................| 2.9
Illinois ............................| 6.8
Indiana .............................| 4.0
Iowa ................................| 4.0
Kansas ..............................| 3.9
Louisiana ...........................| 5.8
Maryland ............................| 5.9
Minnesota ...........................| 3.7
Mississippi .........................| 5.8
Missouri ............................| 3.8
|
Montana .............................| 3.3
Nebraska ............................| 2.0
Nevada ..............................| 7.5
New Hampshire .......................| 2.9
New Jersey ..........................| 7.1
New Mexico ..........................| 6.9
New York ............................| 7.1
North Dakota ........................| 3.5
Oklahoma ............................| 3.0
Pennsylvania ........................| 6.2
|
South Dakota ........................| 2.9
Texas ...............................| 5.6
Utah ................................| 2.4
Vermont .............................| 2.9
Virginia ............................| 3.8
Wisconsin ...........................| 3.9
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from August 2021 to September 2021, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | August | September | change(p)
| 2021 | 2021(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ........................| 6.2 | 5.7 | -0.5
Arkansas .......................| 4.2 | 4.0 | -.2
Colorado .......................| 5.9 | 5.6 | -.3
Connecticut ....................| 7.2 | 6.8 | -.4
District of Columbia ...........| 6.7 | 6.5 | -.2
Florida ........................| 5.0 | 4.9 | -.1
Georgia ........................| 3.5 | 3.2 | -.3
Hawaii .........................| 7.0 | 6.6 | -.4
Illinois .......................| 7.0 | 6.8 | -.2
Iowa ...........................| 4.1 | 4.0 | -.1
| | |
Louisiana ......................| 6.2 | 5.8 | -.4
Massachusetts ..................| 5.0 | 5.2 | .2
Mississippi ....................| 6.0 | 5.8 | -.2
Missouri .......................| 4.0 | 3.8 | -.2
Montana ........................| 3.5 | 3.3 | -.2
Nebraska .......................| 2.2 | 2.0 | -.2
New Mexico .....................| 7.2 | 6.9 | -.3
New York .......................| 7.4 | 7.1 | -.3
Oklahoma .......................| 3.3 | 3.0 | -.3
Oregon .........................| 5.0 | 4.7 | -.3
| | |
Pennsylvania ...................| 6.4 | 6.2 | -.2
Rhode Island ...................| 5.8 | 5.2 | -.6
Tennessee ......................| 4.6 | 4.4 | -.2
Texas ..........................| 5.9 | 5.6 | -.3
Utah ...........................| 2.5 | 2.4 | -.1
Vermont ........................| 3.0 | 2.9 | -.1
Virginia .......................| 4.0 | 3.8 | -.2
West Virginia ..................| 4.8 | 4.6 | -.2
Wyoming ........................| 4.9 | 4.5 | -.4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from September 2020 to September 2021, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | September | September | change(p)
| 2020 | 2021(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 6.7 | 3.1 | -3.6
Alaska .........................| 7.0 | 6.3 | -.7
Arizona ........................| 6.9 | 5.7 | -1.2
Arkansas .......................| 5.9 | 4.0 | -1.9
California .....................| 10.6 | 7.5 | -3.1
Colorado .......................| 7.0 | 5.6 | -1.4
Connecticut ....................| 8.3 | 6.8 | -1.5
Delaware .......................| 7.6 | 5.3 | -2.3
District of Columbia ...........| 8.7 | 6.5 | -2.2
Florida ........................| 7.2 | 4.9 | -2.3
| | |
Georgia ........................| 6.5 | 3.2 | -3.3
Hawaii .........................| 14.8 | 6.6 | -8.2
Idaho ..........................| 6.0 | 2.9 | -3.1
Illinois .......................| 10.4 | 6.8 | -3.6
Indiana ........................| 6.3 | 4.0 | -2.3
Iowa ...........................| 4.7 | 4.0 | -.7
Kansas .........................| 6.1 | 3.9 | -2.2
Kentucky .......................| 5.5 | 4.3 | -1.2
Louisiana ......................| 8.0 | 5.8 | -2.2
Maryland .......................| 7.0 | 5.9 | -1.1
| | |
Massachusetts ..................| 8.9 | 5.2 | -3.7
Michigan .......................| 8.2 | 4.6 | -3.6
Minnesota ......................| 5.8 | 3.7 | -2.1
Mississippi ....................| 7.2 | 5.8 | -1.4
Missouri .......................| 5.4 | 3.8 | -1.6
Montana ........................| 5.2 | 3.3 | -1.9
Nebraska .......................| 3.8 | 2.0 | -1.8
Nevada .........................| 13.0 | 7.5 | -5.5
New Hampshire ..................| 5.5 | 2.9 | -2.6
New Mexico .....................| 8.6 | 6.9 | -1.7
| | |
New York .......................| 10.0 | 7.1 | -2.9
North Carolina .................| 7.3 | 4.2 | -3.1
North Dakota ...................| 4.7 | 3.5 | -1.2
Ohio ...........................| 7.4 | 5.4 | -2.0
Oklahoma .......................| 5.7 | 3.0 | -2.7
Oregon .........................| 7.5 | 4.7 | -2.8
Pennsylvania ...................| 7.1 | 6.2 | -.9
Rhode Island ...................| 10.9 | 5.2 | -5.7
South Carolina .................| 5.4 | 4.1 | -1.3
South Dakota ...................| 4.0 | 2.9 | -1.1
| | |
Tennessee ......................| 7.9 | 4.4 | -3.5
Texas ..........................| 7.9 | 5.6 | -2.3
Utah ...........................| 4.2 | 2.4 | -1.8
Vermont ........................| 4.6 | 2.9 | -1.7
Virginia .......................| 6.6 | 3.8 | -2.8
Washington .....................| 8.0 | 4.9 | -3.1
West Virginia ..................| 7.9 | 4.6 | -3.3
Wisconsin ......................| 5.2 | 3.9 | -1.3
Wyoming ........................| 5.7 | 4.5 | -1.2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
August 2021 to September 2021, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | August | September |---------------------------
| 2021 | 2021(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 2,032,800 | 2,044,200 | 11,400 | 0.6
California ...................| 16,622,500 | 16,669,900 | 47,400 | .3
Florida ......................| 8,782,200 | 8,866,700 | 84,500 | 1.0
Georgia ......................| 4,563,900 | 4,578,200 | 14,300 | .3
Idaho ........................| 789,600 | 785,200 | -4,400 | -.6
Iowa .........................| 1,531,200 | 1,538,200 | 7,000 | .5
Louisiana ....................| 1,847,600 | 1,818,000 | -29,600 | -1.6
Massachusetts ................| 3,504,300 | 3,516,200 | 11,900 | .3
Minnesota ....................| 2,852,600 | 2,869,700 | 17,100 | .6
New Jersey ...................| 3,979,000 | 4,000,500 | 21,500 | .5
| | | |
Oklahoma .....................| 1,636,700 | 1,650,100 | 13,400 | .8
Texas ........................| 12,761,500 | 12,857,300 | 95,800 | .8
Vermont ......................| 298,700 | 295,800 | -2,900 | -1.0
Washington ...................| 3,417,100 | 3,434,700 | 17,600 | .5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
September 2020 to September 2021, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | September | September |---------------------------
| 2020 | 2021(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 1,980,100 | 2,044,200 | 64,100 | 3.2
Alaska .......................| 294,900 | 305,500 | 10,600 | 3.6
Arizona ......................| 2,838,100 | 2,972,100 | 134,000 | 4.7
Arkansas .....................| 1,239,600 | 1,269,800 | 30,200 | 2.4
California ...................| 15,874,100 | 16,669,900 | 795,800 | 5.0
Colorado .....................| 2,639,000 | 2,741,100 | 102,100 | 3.9
Connecticut ..................| 1,569,200 | 1,609,700 | 40,500 | 2.6
Delaware .....................| 441,900 | 449,300 | 7,400 | 1.7
District of Columbia..........| 735,400 | 752,100 | 16,700 | 2.3
Florida ......................| 8,460,800 | 8,866,700 | 405,900 | 4.8
| | | |
Georgia ......................| 4,383,800 | 4,578,200 | 194,400 | 4.4
Hawaii .......................| 510,400 | 576,000 | 65,600 | 12.9
Idaho ........................| 762,600 | 785,200 | 22,600 | 3.0
Illinois .....................| 5,655,600 | 5,813,500 | 157,900 | 2.8
Indiana ......................| 2,999,800 | 3,058,800 | 59,000 | 2.0
Iowa .........................| 1,502,100 | 1,538,200 | 36,100 | 2.4
Kansas .......................| 1,354,800 | 1,387,000 | 32,200 | 2.4
Kentucky .....................| 1,842,600 | 1,882,300 | 39,700 | 2.2
Maine ........................| 599,800 | 611,900 | 12,100 | 2.0
Maryland .....................| 2,563,900 | 2,669,600 | 105,700 | 4.1
| | | |
Massachusetts ................| 3,341,000 | 3,516,200 | 175,200 | 5.2
Michigan .....................| 4,081,900 | 4,180,900 | 99,000 | 2.4
Minnesota ....................| 2,763,800 | 2,869,700 | 105,900 | 3.8
Mississippi ..................| 1,111,900 | 1,138,200 | 26,300 | 2.4
Missouri .....................| 2,775,200 | 2,846,000 | 70,800 | 2.6
Nebraska .....................| 989,300 | 1,017,700 | 28,400 | 2.9
Nevada .......................| 1,265,200 | 1,349,300 | 84,100 | 6.6
New Hampshire ................| 646,000 | 661,700 | 15,700 | 2.4
New Jersey ...................| 3,860,500 | 4,000,500 | 140,000 | 3.6
New Mexico ...................| 786,700 | 811,600 | 24,900 | 3.2
| | | |
New York .....................| 8,747,200 | 8,959,200 | 212,000 | 2.4
North Carolina ...............| 4,382,800 | 4,522,300 | 139,500 | 3.2
North Dakota .................| 408,800 | 416,300 | 7,500 | 1.8
Ohio .........................| 5,267,200 | 5,355,900 | 88,700 | 1.7
Oklahoma .....................| 1,609,700 | 1,650,100 | 40,400 | 2.5
Oregon .......................| 1,817,900 | 1,880,600 | 62,700 | 3.4
Pennsylvania .................| 5,602,700 | 5,733,700 | 131,000 | 2.3
Rhode Island .................| 462,600 | 480,300 | 17,700 | 3.8
South Carolina ...............| 2,080,700 | 2,147,500 | 66,800 | 3.2
South Dakota .................| 429,200 | 437,800 | 8,600 | 2.0
| | | |
Tennessee ....................| 2,997,600 | 3,093,700 | 96,100 | 3.2
Texas ........................| 12,145,800 | 12,857,300 | 711,500 | 5.9
Utah .........................| 1,538,800 | 1,618,900 | 80,100 | 5.2
Vermont ......................| 287,800 | 295,800 | 8,000 | 2.8
Virginia .....................| 3,856,000 | 3,929,000 | 73,000 | 1.9
Washington ...................| 3,259,600 | 3,434,700 | 175,100 | 5.4
West Virginia ................| 670,800 | 691,000 | 20,200 | 3.0
Wisconsin ....................| 2,826,500 | 2,876,400 | 49,900 | 1.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
