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Nonfarm payroll employment changed significantly in 14 states in February 2021, increasing in 11 states and decreasing in 3 states. Employment was essentially unchanged in the remaining 36 states and the District of Columbia. From February 2020 to February 2021, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 48 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 2 states.
State | Over-the-month, January 2021 to February 2021 | Over-the-year, February 2020 to February 2021 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Percent change | Employment change | Percent change | Employment change | |
Michigan |
1.6% | 63,500 | -7.5% | -332,300 |
California |
0.9 | 141,000 | -9.4 | -1,662,000 |
New Mexico |
0.9 | 7,000 | -8.9 | -77,100 |
Washington |
0.9 | 28,700 | -6.0 | -212,500 |
Oregon |
0.8 | 13,900 | -7.8 | -153,900 |
Alaska |
0.7 | 2,000 | -7.3 | -24,100 |
Minnesota |
0.5 | 13,900 | -7.0 | -211,200 |
Utah |
0.5 | 7,900 | 0.4 | 5,800 |
Illinois |
0.4 | 21,100 | -7.5 | -461,200 |
Massachusetts |
0.4 | 14,100 | -8.7 | -325,100 |
North Carolina |
0.3 | 14,400 | -3.8 | -173,700 |
Missouri |
-0.4 | -11,600 | -4.5 | -130,500 |
Mississippi |
-0.6 | -7,000 | -4.0 | -47,000 |
Oklahoma |
-0.7 | -10,700 | -5.4 | -91,900 |
Note: Data for the most recent month are preliminary |
The largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment occurred in Michigan (+1.6 percent), followed by California, New Mexico, and Washington (+0.9 percent each). Employment decreased in Oklahoma (−0.7 percent), and Mississippi (−0.6 percent), and Missouri (−0.4 percent).
Over the year, the largest percentage declines occurred in Hawaii (−17.8 percent), New York (−10.8 percent), and Nevada (−10.6 percent), though these states did not have significant employment changes in February 2021.
These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "State Employment and Unemployment — February 2021." For more charts and tables related to state employment and unemployment, see the state chart package.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Payroll employment up in 11 states, down in 3 states, in February 2021 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2021/payroll-employment-up-in-11-states-down-in-3-states-in-february-2021.htm (visited October 31, 2024).