For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, September 19, 2023 USDL-23-2022
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 -- AUGUST 2023
Unemployment rates were higher in August in 10 states, lower in 2 states, and stable
in 38 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
today. Twenty-five states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 9 states and
the District had increases, and 16 states had little change. The national unemployment
rate, 3.8 percent, rose by 0.3 percentage point over the month but was little changed
from August 2022.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 5 states, decreased in 3 states, and was
essentially unchanged in 42 states and the District of Columbia in August 2023.
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 32 states and was essentially
unchanged in 18 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.
Unemployment
Maryland had the lowest jobless rate in August, 1.7 percent. The next lowest rates were
in New Hampshire and Vermont, 1.8 percent each. The rates in Louisiana (3.3 percent),
Maryland (1.7 percent), and North Dakota (1.9 percent) set new series lows. (All state
series begin in 1976.) Nevada had the highest unemployment rate, 5.4 percent. In total,
27 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.8 percent, 2 states and
the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 21 states had rates that were not appreciably
different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 1.)
In August, 10 states had over-the-month unemployment rate increases, the largest of
which were in New Jersey and Wisconsin (+0.3 percentage point each). North Dakota and
South Carolina had the only rate decreases (-0.1 percentage point each). Thirty-eight
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-five states had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which
was in Maryland (-1.7 percentage points). Nine states and the District of Columbia had
rate increases from August 2022, the largest of which was in New Jersey (+1.2 percentage
points). Sixteen 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 increased in 5 states, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially
unchanged in 42 states and the District of Columbia in August 2023. The largest job gains
occurred in North Carolina (+17,500), Massachusetts (+15,400), and Maryland (+12,400).
The largest percentage increases occurred in Montana (+0.7 percent), Nevada (+0.6 percent),
and Maryland (+0.5 percent). Job losses occurred in Missouri (-13,700, or -0.5 percent),
Mississippi (-6,400, or -0.5 percent), and Hawaii (-4,800, or -0.8 percent). (See tables D and 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 32 states and was essentially unchanged
in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+402,000),
California (+335,200), and Florida (+270,300). The largest percentage increases occurred in
Nevada (+3.9 percent), Texas (+3.0 percent), and Florida (+2.8 percent). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for August is scheduled to be
released on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and
Unemployment news release for September is scheduled to be released on Friday, October 20,
2023, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., August 2023, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 3.8
|
Alabama .............................| 2.1
Arkansas ............................| 2.7
California ..........................| 4.6
Colorado ............................| 3.1
District of Columbia ................| 5.0
Florida .............................| 2.7
Hawaii ..............................| 2.8
Idaho ...............................| 3.0
Iowa ................................| 2.9
Kansas ..............................| 2.7
|
Maine ...............................| 2.5
Maryland ............................| 1.7
Massachusetts .......................| 2.6
Minnesota ...........................| 3.1
Missouri ............................| 2.8
Montana .............................| 2.5
Nebraska ............................| 2.0
Nevada ..............................| 5.4
New Hampshire .......................| 1.8
North Dakota ........................| 1.9
|
Oklahoma ............................| 2.8
Rhode Island ........................| 2.7
South Carolina ......................| 3.0
South Dakota ........................| 1.9
Tennessee ...........................| 3.1
Utah ................................| 2.5
Vermont .............................| 1.8
Virginia ............................| 2.5
Wisconsin ...........................| 2.9
Wyoming .............................| 2.9
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from July 2023 to August 2023, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | July | August | change(p)
| 2023 | 2023(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska .........................| 3.8 | 3.9 | 0.1
Arizona ........................| 3.6 | 3.8 | .2
Idaho ..........................| 2.8 | 3.0 | .2
Illinois .......................| 4.0 | 4.1 | .1
Iowa ...........................| 2.7 | 2.9 | .2
Massachusetts ..................| 2.5 | 2.6 | .1
New Jersey .....................| 3.9 | 4.2 | .3
North Dakota ...................| 2.0 | 1.9 | -.1
South Carolina .................| 3.1 | 3.0 | -.1
Utah ...........................| 2.4 | 2.5 | .1
West Virginia ..................| 3.4 | 3.6 | .2
Wisconsin ......................| 2.6 | 2.9 | .3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from August 2022 to August 2023, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | August | August | change(p)
| 2022 | 2023(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 2.6 | 2.1 | -0.5
Arkansas .......................| 3.4 | 2.7 | -.7
California .....................| 3.8 | 4.6 | .8
Colorado .......................| 2.6 | 3.1 | .5
Delaware .......................| 4.5 | 4.1 | -.4
District of Columbia ...........| 3.9 | 5.0 | 1.1
Hawaii .........................| 3.6 | 2.8 | -.8
Idaho ..........................| 2.8 | 3.0 | .2
Illinois .......................| 4.5 | 4.1 | -.4
Indiana ........................| 3.1 | 3.4 | .3
| | |
Maryland .......................| 3.4 | 1.7 | -1.7
Massachusetts ..................| 3.9 | 2.6 | -1.3
Michigan .......................| 4.3 | 3.7 | -.6
Minnesota ......................| 2.7 | 3.1 | .4
Mississippi ....................| 3.9 | 3.2 | -.7
Missouri .......................| 2.4 | 2.8 | .4
Nebraska .......................| 2.6 | 2.0 | -.6
New Hampshire ..................| 2.7 | 1.8 | -.9
New Jersey .....................| 3.0 | 4.2 | 1.2
New Mexico .....................| 3.4 | 3.7 | .3
| | |
North Carolina .................| 3.9 | 3.3 | -.6
North Dakota ...................| 2.0 | 1.9 | -.1
Ohio ...........................| 4.1 | 3.4 | -.7
Oklahoma .......................| 3.2 | 2.8 | -.4
Oregon .........................| 4.3 | 3.4 | -.9
Pennsylvania ...................| 4.3 | 3.5 | -.8
Rhode Island ...................| 3.4 | 2.7 | -.7
South Carolina .................| 3.3 | 3.0 | -.3
South Dakota ...................| 2.2 | 1.9 | -.3
Texas ..........................| 3.7 | 4.1 | .4
| | |
Vermont ........................| 2.8 | 1.8 | -1.0
Virginia .......................| 2.8 | 2.5 | -.3
Washington .....................| 4.3 | 3.6 | -.7
West Virginia ..................| 4.1 | 3.6 | -.5
Wyoming ........................| 3.7 | 2.9 | -.8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
July 2023 to August 2023, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | July | August |---------------------------
| 2023 | 2023(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hawaii .......................| 636,600 | 631,800 | -4,800 | -0.8
Maryland .....................| 2,743,100 | 2,755,500 | 12,400 | .5
Massachusetts ................| 3,773,300 | 3,788,700 | 15,400 | .4
Mississippi ..................| 1,172,700 | 1,166,300 | -6,400 | -.5
Missouri .....................| 3,002,400 | 2,988,700 | -13,700 | -.5
Montana ......................| 516,100 | 519,500 | 3,400 | .7
Nevada .......................| 1,551,400 | 1,560,500 | 9,100 | .6
North Carolina ...............| 4,927,800 | 4,945,300 | 17,500 | .4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
August 2022 to August 2023, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | August | August |---------------------------
| 2022 | 2023(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 2,120,100 | 2,157,200 | 37,100 | 1.7
Alaska .......................| 320,100 | 327,300 | 7,200 | 2.2
Arizona ......................| 3,106,300 | 3,163,300 | 57,000 | 1.8
Arkansas .....................| 1,341,800 | 1,368,500 | 26,700 | 2.0
California ...................| 17,785,000 | 18,120,200 | 335,200 | 1.9
Colorado .....................| 2,873,300 | 2,916,000 | 42,700 | 1.5
Florida ......................| 9,507,700 | 9,778,000 | 270,300 | 2.8
Georgia ......................| 4,830,000 | 4,925,700 | 95,700 | 2.0
Idaho ........................| 832,200 | 854,600 | 22,400 | 2.7
Illinois .....................| 6,070,000 | 6,145,600 | 75,600 | 1.2
| | | |
Indiana ......................| 3,212,500 | 3,266,000 | 53,500 | 1.7
Kentucky .....................| 1,972,700 | 2,023,900 | 51,200 | 2.6
Louisiana ....................| 1,930,400 | 1,964,600 | 34,200 | 1.8
Massachusetts ................| 3,698,200 | 3,788,700 | 90,500 | 2.4
Michigan .....................| 4,384,500 | 4,438,900 | 54,400 | 1.2
Minnesota ....................| 2,945,200 | 2,987,000 | 41,800 | 1.4
Missouri .....................| 2,937,000 | 2,988,700 | 51,700 | 1.8
Nevada .......................| 1,502,300 | 1,560,500 | 58,200 | 3.9
New Jersey ...................| 4,274,900 | 4,342,200 | 67,300 | 1.6
New Mexico ...................| 851,000 | 867,800 | 16,800 | 2.0
| | | |
New York .....................| 9,599,400 | 9,726,600 | 127,200 | 1.3
North Carolina ...............| 4,828,000 | 4,945,300 | 117,300 | 2.4
Ohio .........................| 5,552,300 | 5,639,700 | 87,400 | 1.6
Oregon .......................| 1,961,300 | 2,000,900 | 39,600 | 2.0
Pennsylvania .................| 6,010,700 | 6,164,500 | 153,800 | 2.6
South Carolina ...............| 2,256,800 | 2,303,100 | 46,300 | 2.1
Tennessee ....................| 3,262,400 | 3,320,300 | 57,900 | 1.8
Texas ........................| 13,577,100 | 13,979,100 | 402,000 | 3.0
Utah .........................| 1,689,700 | 1,728,700 | 39,000 | 2.3
Virginia .....................| 4,091,100 | 4,156,800 | 65,700 | 1.6
Washington ...................| 3,555,300 | 3,638,000 | 82,700 | 2.3
Wyoming ......................| 285,000 | 292,700 | 7,700 | 2.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
United States Department of Labor
