Unemployment rates remain steady
Regional and state unemployment rates changed little in July from the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) recorded unemployment rate decreases, 14 states registered rate increases, and 18 states had no change, according to data the bureau released on Friday.
Alabama saw the largest decrease in unemployment in July, dropping 0.6 percent from June. The rates in Nebraska, North Carolina and Tennessee fell by 0.2 percent. Eighteen states, D.C. and Puerto Rico have rates higher than the national rate of 9.5 percent for July.
In comparison to a year ago, 27 states have lower unemployment rates than in July 2009, while rates have increased over the year in 14 states. The largest over-the-year increase was in Nevada, where unemployment has jumped two percentage points since last year. For the third month in a row, Nevada led the states with the highest unemployment rate at 14.3 percent, a new high for the state under current records. Michigan followed at 13.1 percent, and California at 12.3 percent.
North Dakota continued to lead the states with the lowest unemployment rate, at 3.6 percent, followed by South Dakota at 4.4 percent and Nebraska at 4.7 percent. State unemployment figures for August will be released on Sept. 21.
Read the bureau’s full employment report for July.
