
An official website of the United States government
15-1292-BOS
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
The New England unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.9 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Deborah A. Brown noted that New England’s jobless rate declined from a year ago when it was 6.0 percent. The national jobless rate was essentially unchanged from April at 5.5 percent and was 0.8 percentage point lower than in May 2014. (See chart 1.)
New England is 1 of 9 geographic divisions nationwide. Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific had the highest jobless rate in May at 6.1 percent. The West North Central division had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.3 percent. All nine divisions had statistically significant rate declines from a year earlier, with the largest of these decreases occurring in the East North Central, East South Central, and Pacific (-1.2 percentage points each).
In May, 4 of the 6 New England states had jobless rates that were significantly different from that of the nation. Vermont (3.6 percent), New Hampshire (3.8 percent), Massachusetts (4.6 percent) and Maine (4.7 percent) had significantly lower unemployment rates and were among 21 states in the country to do so. Connecticut and Rhode Island were among the 19 states that had unemployment rates not appreciably different from that of the nation. Ten states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rates measurably higher than the national average.
Over the year, five New England states had statistically significant unemployment rate changes, all decreases. Rhode Island had the largest decline (-2.0 percentage points), followed by Massachusetts (-1.2 points), Maine (-1.0 point), New Hampshire (-0.6 point), and Vermont (-0.4 point). In fact, Rhode Island had the largest jobless rate decline among the 24 states nationwide that reported significant rate decreases from May 2014. Connecticut was among the 25 states and the District of Columbia that had unemployment rates that were not appreciably different from a year ago. North Dakota was the only state with a significant over-the-year rate increase.
The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for June 2015 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
This release presents civilian labor force and unemployment data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) and the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program. Estimates for the U.S. are obtained directly from the CPS, which is a sample survey of approximately 60,000 households nationwide that is conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the Census Bureau. The LAUS program produces data for subnational areas, including the nine geographic divisions (New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East South Central, West South Central, East North Central, West North Central, Mountain, and Pacific) and the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The LAUS data for geographic divisions and states are model-based. The models for geographic divisions use inputs from the CPS only, while the models for the states and the District of Columbia use inputs from the CPS in conjunction with estimates of nonfarm payroll employment from the Current Employment Statistics survey and counts of unemployment insurance claimants from the state workforce agencies. Each month, not-seasonally-adjusted estimates for geographic divisions are controlled to the national totals from the CPS, and state estimates are then controlled to the estimates for their divisions. Data for all divisions, as well as the 50 states and the District of Columbia, are available in the Regional and State Employment and Unemployment release www.bls.gov/lau/home.htm#news issued monthly by BLS, while national statistics are highlighted in the Employment Situation www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm#news.
Labor force and unemployment data for prior years reflect adjustments made at the end of each year. The adjusted estimates reflect updated population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, any revisions in the other data sources, and model re-estimation. In most years, historical data for the most recent five years (both seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted) are revised near the beginning of each calendar year, prior to or coincident with the release of January estimates.
Model-based error measures for seasonally adjusted data and for over-the-month and over-the-year changes are available online at www.bls.gov/lau/lastderr.htm. BLS uses a 90-percent confidence level in determining whether changes in LAUS unemployment rates are statistically significant. The average magnitude of the current year over-the-month change in a state unemployment rate that is required for statistical significance at the 90-percent confidence level is just over 0.2 percentage point; the average amount of the current over-the-year change in a state rate for significance is about 0.9 point. More details can be found on the website. Measures of nonsampling error are not available.
This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200, Federal Relay Services: (800)-877-8339.
Area | May 2014 | June 2014 | July 2014 | Aug 2014 | Sept 2014 | Oct 2014 | Nov 2014 | Dec 2014 | Jan 2015 | Feb 2015 | Mar 2015 | Apr 2015 | May 2015 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United States (1) | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 155,629 | 155,700 | 156,048 | 156,018 | 155,845 | 156,243 | 156,402 | 156,129 | (2) 157,180 | 157,002 | 156,906 | 157,072 | 157,469 |
Employed | 145,868 | 146,247 | 146,401 | 146,451 | 146,607 | 147,260 | 147,331 | 147,442 | (2) 148,201 | 148,297 | 148,331 | 148,523 | 148,795 |
Unemployed | 9,761 | 9,453 | 9,648 | 9,568 | 9,237 | 8,983 | 9,071 | 8,688 | 8,979 | 8,705 | 8,575 | 8,549 | 8,674 |
Unemployment rate | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.5 |
New England | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 7,772.0 | 7,778.7 | 7,786.5 | 7,794.9 | 7,803.2 | 7,810.4 | 7,816.4 | 7,821.1 | 7,829.2 | 7,849.8 | 7,873.4 | 7,889.6 | 7,903.9 |
Employed | 7,307.2 | 7,319.8 | 7,332.9 | 7,346.3 | 7,359.4 | 7,371.8 | 7,382.8 | 7,391.6 | 7,411.3 | 7,436.4 | 7,464.8 | 7,492.2 | 7,515.5 |
Unemployed | 464.8 | 458.9 | 453.6 | 448.7 | 443.8 | 438.6 | 433.6 | 429.5 | 417.9 | 413.4 | 408.6 | 397.4 | 388.4 |
Unemployment rate | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.9 |
Connecticut | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 1,881.8 | 1,882.7 | 1,884.3 | 1,886.8 | 1,889.9 | 1,893.3 | 1,896.5 | 1,899.4 | 1,904.5 | 1,909.9 | 1,915.8 | 1,920.6 | (P) 1,921.8 |
Employed | 1,757.2 | 1,760.3 | 1,763.5 | 1,766.7 | 1,770.1 | 1,773.6 | 1,776.8 | 1,779.5 | 1,784.2 | 1,788.0 | 1,794.0 | 1,800.6 | (P) 1,806.6 |
Unemployed | 124.6 | 122.4 | 120.9 | 120.0 | 119.8 | 119.7 | 119.7 | 119.9 | 120.2 | 121.9 | 121.9 | 120.0 | (P) 115.2 |
Unemployment rate | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.2 | (P) 6.0 |
Maine | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 700.8 | 699.8 | 698.7 | 697.5 | 696.4 | 695.3 | 694.4 | 693.7 | 692.3 | 690.6 | 689.7 | 689.2 | (P) 691.2 |
Employed | 660.8 | 660.1 | 659.2 | 658.3 | 657.4 | 656.7 | 656.1 | 655.7 | 656.3 | 656.2 | 656.6 | 657.1 | (P) 658.9 |
Unemployed | 40.0 | 39.8 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 39.0 | 38.7 | 38.3 | 38.0 | 36.1 | 34.4 | 33.1 | 32.1 | (P) 32.2 |
Unemployment rate | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.7 | (P) 4.7 |
Massachusetts | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 3,550.1 | 3,555.5 | 3,561.2 | 3,567.1 | 3,572.9 | 3,578.2 | 3,582.8 | 3,586.6 | 3,591.1 | 3,607.9 | 3,623.9 | 3,634.3 | (P) 3,640.1 |
Employed | 3,344.6 | 3,351.5 | 3,358.7 | 3,366.4 | 3,374.3 | 3,382.1 | 3,389.3 | 3,395.2 | 3,409.4 | 3,430.5 | 3,448.8 | 3,464.9 | (P) 3,471.5 |
Unemployed | 205.5 | 204.0 | 202.4 | 200.7 | 198.5 | 196.0 | 193.5 | 191.4 | 181.7 | 177.3 | 175.1 | 169.4 | (P) 168.7 |
Unemployment rate | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | (P) 4.6 |
New Hampshire | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 741.2 | 740.8 | 740.5 | 740.4 | 740.6 | 740.8 | 741.1 | 741.3 | 742.8 | 744.0 | 745.9 | 746.5 | (P) 748.0 |
Employed | 708.5 | 708.6 | 708.9 | 709.3 | 710.0 | 710.6 | 711.2 | 711.7 | 713.3 | 714.7 | 716.9 | 717.8 | (P) 719.3 |
Unemployed | 32.7 | 32.2 | 31.6 | 31.1 | 30.6 | 30.2 | 29.9 | 29.6 | 29.4 | 29.3 | 29.0 | 28.7 | (P) 28.7 |
Unemployment rate | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | (P) 3.8 |
Rhode Island | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 555.3 | 555.1 | 554.4 | 553.3 | 552.1 | 550.9 | 549.7 | 548.8 | 549.0 | 549.6 | 551.9 | 553.8 | (P) 556.4 |
Employed | 511.4 | 512.1 | 512.5 | 512.5 | 512.3 | 512.0 | 511.8 | 511.6 | 513.1 | 514.7 | 517.3 | 520.1 | (P) 523.4 |
Unemployed | 43.9 | 42.9 | 41.9 | 40.9 | 39.8 | 38.8 | 37.9 | 37.2 | 35.9 | 34.9 | 34.7 | 33.7 | (P) 33.1 |
Unemployment rate | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.1 | (P) 5.9 |
Vermont | |||||||||||||
Civilian labor force | 348.8 | 348.8 | 348.9 | 348.9 | 348.9 | 348.8 | 348.8 | 348.8 | 348.7 | 348.5 | 348.3 | 348.2 | (P) 348.5 |
Employed | 334.7 | 334.6 | 334.5 | 334.4 | 334.4 | 334.3 | 334.3 | 334.3 | 334.6 | 334.7 | 335.0 | 335.6 | (P) 336.0 |
Unemployed | 14.1 | 14.2 | 14.4 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 14.5 | 14.2 | 13.7 | 13.2 | 12.6 | (P) 12.5 |
Unemployment rate | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 | (P) 3.6 |
Footnotes |
Census region and division | Civilian labor force | Unemployed | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 2014 | Mar 2015 | Apr 2015 | May 2015 | Number | Percent of the labor force | |||||||
May 2014 | Mar 2015 | Apr 2015 | May 2015 | May 2014 | Mar 2015 | Apr 2015 | May 2015 | |||||
Northeast | 28,250.3 | 28,374.9 | 28,464.0 | 28,561.3 | 1,770.1 | 1,584.7 | 1,592.4 | 1,586.6 | 6.3 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
New England | 7,772.0 | 7,873.4 | 7,889.6 | 7,903.9 | 464.8 | 408.6 | 397.4 | 388.4 | 6.0 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.9 |
Middle Atlantic | 20,478.3 | 20,501.6 | 20,574.3 | 20,657.4 | 1,305.2 | 1,176.2 | 1,195.0 | 1,198.3 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
South | 56,997.3 | 57,240.2 | 57,354.4 | 57,461.0 | 3,484.2 | 3,060.2 | 3,089.5 | 3,115.8 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 |
South Atlantic | 30,259.3 | 30,335.2 | 30,380.1 | 30,425.0 | 1,927.0 | 1,719.2 | 1,740.8 | 1,757.7 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.8 |
East South Central | 8,431.9 | 8,381.0 | 8,442.0 | 8,497.2 | 588.4 | 489.3 | 486.6 | 494.4 | 7.0 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
West South Central | 18,306.1 | 18,524.0 | 18,532.3 | 18,538.8 | 968.7 | 851.7 | 862.2 | 863.7 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 |
Midwest | 34,399.5 | 34,542.9 | 34,521.1 | 34,545.0 | 2,054.0 | 1,743.3 | 1,739.3 | 1,752.8 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.1 |
East North Central | 23,289.2 | 23,317.4 | 23,284.7 | 23,312.9 | 1,530.3 | 1,274.2 | 1,260.1 | 1,265.8 | 6.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 |
West North Central | 11,110.3 | 11,225.6 | 11,236.4 | 11,232.1 | 523.8 | 469.1 | 479.2 | 487.0 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
West | 36,456.3 | 36,873.2 | 36,912.1 | 37,005.1 | 2,496.5 | 2,173.3 | 2,146.0 | 2,150.8 | 6.8 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
Mountain | 11,233.8 | 11,394.4 | 11,422.2 | 11,449.3 | 664.0 | 579.3 | 582.8 | 581.9 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
Pacific | 25,222.5 | 25,478.8 | 25,490.0 | 25,555.9 | 1,832.5 | 1,594.0 | 1,563.2 | 1,568.9 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.1 |
Note: Census region estimates are derived by summing the Census division model-based estimates. Data refer to place of residence. Regions are defined as the four Census regions, comprised as follows: Northeast Region includes the New England Division - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; and the Middle Atlantic Division - New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. South Rgion includes the South Atlantic Division - Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central Division - Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; and West South Central Division - Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Midwest Region includes the East North Central - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; and the West North Central Division - Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. West Region includes the Moutain Division - Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Estimates for the current year are subject to revision early in the following calendar year. |
Last Modified Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2015