Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 26, 2016. In 2015, annual average unemployment rates decreased in 47 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 2 states, and were unchanged in 1 state, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios increased in 35 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 15 states. The U.S. jobless rate declined by 0.9 percentage point from the prior year to 5.3 percent, and the national employment-population ratio rose by 0.3 point to 59.3 percent.
Regional Unemployment
All four regions had statistically significant unemployment rate decreases from 2014: the Midwest, Northeast, and West (-1.0 percentage point each) and the South (-0.7 point). The Midwest, at 4.8 percent, had the only jobless rate significantly lower than that of the U.S. in 2015, while the West, at 5.7 percent, had the only rate significantly above the national figure. (See table 1.)
All nine geographic divisions had statistically significant over-the-year unemployment rate declines in 2015, the largest of which occurred in the East North Central and Pacific (-1.2 percentage points each). The West North Central had the lowest jobless rate among divisions, 4.0 percent. The West South Central, at 4.7 percent, and New England, at 5.0 percent, also had rates significantly below the U.S. average. Two divisions had unemployment rates that were measurably higher than that of the U.S.: the Pacific, 6.0 percent, and East South Central, 5.9 percent.
State Unemployment
Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia had statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2015. The largest of these declines occurred in Michigan (-1.9 percentage points) and Rhode Island (-1.7 points). The remaining 12 states had annual average jobless rates in 2015 that were not appreciably different from those of the previous year, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table A.)
North Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.7 percent in 2015, followed by Nebraska and South Dakota, 3.0 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively. Nevada and West Virginia had the highest jobless rates among the states, 6.7 percent each. The District of Columbia had a rate of 6.9 percent. Overall, 20 states had unemployment rates that were significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 5.3 percent, while 13 states and the District of Columbia had rates measurably above it. (See table B.)
Regional Employment-Population Ratios
In 2015, three regions had statistically significant changes in their employment-population ratios–the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over who are employed–all of which were increases. These occurred in the Northeast (+0.7 percentage point), Midwest (+0.6 point), and West (+0.4 point). The Midwest had the highest ratio, 61.9 percent, while the South, at 57.9 percent, had the lowest. The ratios in these two regions were the only ones that were significantly different from the national figure of 59.3 percent. (See table 2.)
Four of the nine geographic divisions had significant changes in their employment-population ratios from 2014 to 2015, all of which were increases: the Middle Atlantic (+0.8 percentage point), East North Central (+0.7 point), West North Central (+0.6 point), and Pacific (+0.5 point). The division with the highest employment-population ratio in 2015 was the West North Central, at 65.8 percent, followed by New England, at 62.0 percent. These two divisions, along with the East North Central and Mountain, at 60.2 percent and 60.1 percent, respectively, had employment-population ratios measurably above that of the U.S. The East South Central had the lowest proportion of employed persons, 54.0 percent. The ratios in the South Atlantic (58.0 percent) and Pacific (58.5 percent) also were appreciably below the national average.
State Employment-Population Ratios
In 2015, the largest employment-population ratio increases among the states occurred in Missouri (+1.7 percentage points) and Delaware (+1.5 points). Seventeen other states and the District of Columbia also had statistically significant increases in their ratios. Four states had significant over-the-year decreases in their employment-population ratios, the largest of which occurred in North Dakota (-1.6 percentage points). (See table C.)
North Dakota had the highest proportion of employed persons, 69.1 percent in 2015. Four other states in the West North Central division had the next highest ratios: Nebraska, 68.0 percent; Minnesota, 67.6 percent; Iowa, 67.3 percent; and South Dakota, 67.2 percent. West Virginia had the lowest employment-population ratio among the states, 49.4 percent. (West Virginia has had the lowest employment-population ratio each year since the series began in 1976.) Overall, 25 states and the District of Columbia had employment-population ratios that were significantly above the U.S. ratio of 59.3 percent and 17 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. Three states had the lowest employment-population ratios in their series in 2015: Alaska, 62.7 percent; Kentucky, 53.7 percent; and New Mexico, 53.5 percent. (See table D.)
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The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2016 is scheduled to be released on Monday, March 14, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2016 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 18, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
The tables referenced above can be viewed at: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/srgune.nr0.htm
Source: http://www.bls.gov
