Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—March 27, 2015. Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in February. Twenty-six states had unemployment rate decreases from January, 6 states and the District of Columbia had increases, and 18 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Forty-six states had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, four states had increases, and the District of Columbia had no change. The national jobless rate edged down to 5.5 percent from January and was 1.2 percentage points lower than in February 2014.
In February 2015, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 36 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 13 states, and was unchanged in Wyoming. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in California (+29,400), Georgia (+25,400), and New York (+20,200). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Connecticut (-3,700), followed by Rhode Island (-2,700) and West Virginia (-2,400). The largest over-the-month percentage increases in employment occurred in Kansas, South Dakota, and Utah (+0.7 percent each). The largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment occurred in Rhode Island (-0.6 percent), followed by Alaska and West Virginia (-0.3 percent each). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-year percentage increase occurred in Utah (+4.2 percent), followed by North Dakota (+4.0 percent) and Georgia (+3.8 percent).
Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
In February, the Midwest had the lowest regional unemployment rate, 5.1 percent, while the West had the highest rate, 6.1 percent. Over the month, three regions had statistically significant unemployment changes: the West (-0.2 percentage point) and Midwest and South (-0.1 point each). Significant over-the-year rate decreases occurred in all four regions: the Midwest (-1.3 percentage points), West (-1.1 points), Northeast (-1.0 point), and South (-0.9 point). (See table 1.)
Among the nine geographic divisions, the West North Central had the lowest unemployment rate, 4.2 percent in February. The Pacific had the highest rate, 6.5 percent. Over the month, statistically significant jobless rate changes occurred in the East South Central (-0.3 percentage point) and Pacific (-0.2 point). All nine divisions had significant rate declines from a year earlier, with the largest of these decreases occurring in the East North Central (-1.6 percentage points).
State Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Nebraska had the lowest jobless rate in February, 2.7 percent, followed by North Dakota, 2.9 percent. Nevada had the highest rate among the states, 7.1 percent. The District of Columbia had a rate of 7.8 percent. In total, 19 states had unemployment rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 5.5 percent, 13 states and the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 18 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 3.)
In February, nine states had statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate declines, the largest of which occurred in Oregon (-0.5 percentage point). The only significant over-the-month rate increase occurred in North Dakota (+0.1 percentage point). The remaining 40 states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that were not measurably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table B.)
Forty-two states had statistically significant unemployment rate declines from February 2014, the largest of which occurred in Kentucky and Rhode Island (-2.1 percentage points each). Three states had significant over-the-year rate increases, the largest of which was in Louisiana (+1.3 percentage points). The remaining five states and the District of Columbia had rates that were not appreciably different from those of a year earlier. (See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
In February 2015, 19 states and the District of Columbia had statistically significant over-the-month increases in employment and Rhode Island had a significant decrease (-2,700). The largest significant job gains occurred in California (+29,400), Georgia (+25,400), and New York (+20,200). (See tables D and 5.)
Over the year, 38 states and the District of Columbia had statistically significant changes in employment, all of which were positive. The largest significant over-the-year job increase occurred in California (+476,400), followed by Texas (+357,300) and Florida (+266,600). (See table E.)
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for February 2015 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for March 2015 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
The tables and charts referenced above can be viewed at: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm
Source: bls.gov
