North Dakota has largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among states, October 2013

From October 2012 to October 2013, nonfarm employment increased in 49 states and decreased in Alaska and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-year percentage increase occurred in North Dakota (+3.5 percent), followed by Florida (+2.5 percent) and Idaho and Texas (+2.4 percent each).

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Percentage change in nonfarm payroll employment by state, seasonally adjusted, October 2012–October 2013

State	Percent change in nonfarm employment from October 2012 to October 2013 (p)	Statistical significance
Alabama	0.0	Not statistically significant change
Alaska	-0.9	Not statistically significant change
Arizona	1.8	Statistically significant, increase
Arkansas	0.8	Not statistically significant change
California	1.4	Statistically significant, increase
Colorado	2.0	Statistically significant, increase
Connecticut	0.6	Not statistically significant change
Delaware	2.1	Statistically significant, increase
District of Columbia	-0.1	Not statistically significant change
Florida	2.5	Statistically significant, increase
Georgia	2.2	Statistically significant, increase
Hawaii	1.1	Not statistically significant change
Idaho	2.4	Statistically significant, increase
Illinois	1.0	Statistically significant, increase
Indiana	1.5	Statistically significant, increase
Iowa	0.5	Not statistically significant change
Kansas	1.3	Statistically significant, increase
Kentucky	0.1	Not statistically significant change
Louisiana	1.6	Statistically significant, increase
Maine	0.6	Not statistically significant change
Maryland	0.8	Not statistically significant change
Massachusetts	1.6	Statistically significant, increase
Michigan	1.8	Statistically significant, increase
Minnesota	1.8	Statistically significant, increase
Mississippi	1.7	Statistically significant, increase
Missouri	1.2	Statistically significant, increase
Montana	0.7	Not statistically significant change
Nebraska	1.2	Statistically significant, increase
Nevada	1.8	Statistically significant, increase
New Hampshire	0.7	Not statistically significant change
New Jersey	1.4	Statistically significant, increase
New Mexico	0.2	Not statistically significant change
New York	1.1	Statistically significant, increase
North Carolina	2.0	Statistically significant, increase
North Dakota	3.5	Statistically significant, increase
Ohio	0.5	Not statistically significant change
Oklahoma	0.9	Not statistically significant change
Oregon	1.8	Statistically significant, increase
Pennsylvania	0.5	Not statistically significant change
Rhode Island	1.2	Not statistically significant change
South Carolina	1.8	Statistically significant, increase
South Dakota	1.1	Not statistically significant change
Tennessee	1.2	Statistically significant, increase
Texas	2.4	Statistically significant, increase
Utah	2.2	Statistically significant, increase
Vermont	0.9	Not statistically significant change
Virginia	0.7	Not statistically significant change
Washington	1.6	Statistically significant, increase
West Virginia	1.1	Not statistically significant change
Wisconsin	1.5	Statistically significant, increase
Wyoming	0.8	Not statistically significant change
Footnotes: (p) = preliminary.

Over the year ended October, 29 states had statistically significant changes in employment, all of which were positive. Among those states, the largest job increase occurred in Texas (+267,400, or +2.4 percent), followed by California (+207,300, or +1.4 percent) and Florida (+182,200, or +2.5 percent).

In October 2013, 18 states had statistically significant over-the-month changes in employment, 15 of which were increases. The largest statistically significant job gains occurred in Florida (+44,600), California (+39,800), and North Carolina (+22,200). The three statistically significant job decreases occurred in Kentucky (‑12,600), Washington (‑8,100), and South Dakota (‑2,600).

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program. Data for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see "Regional and State Employment and Unemployment — October 2013" (HTML) (PDF), news release USDL-13-2197.