Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 19, 2016. Unemployment rates were significantly higher in July in 7 states, lower in 3 states, and stable in 40 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Ten states and the District had notable unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 3 states had increases, and 37 states had no significant change. The national jobless rate was unchanged from 4.9 percent in June but was 0.4 percentage point lower than in July 2015.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 15 states in July 2016, decreased in Kansas, and was essentially unchanged in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, 34 states added nonfarm payroll jobs, North Dakota and Wyoming lost jobs, and 14 states and the District were essentially unchanged.
Regional Unemployment
In July, two regions had unemployment rates significantly different than the U.S. rate of 4.9 percent: the Midwest, at 4.5 percent, and West, at 5.3 percent. Over the month, the Midwest had the only statistically significant unemployment rate change (-0.2 percentage point). Significant over-the-year rate decreases occurred in three regions: the South (-0.5 percentage point), West (-0.4 point), and Northeast (-0.3 point). (See table 1.)
Among the nine geographic divisions, the West North Central had the lowest unemployment rate, 3.9 percent in July, followed by New England, 4.3 percent. The Pacific had the highest rate, 5.4 percent. Over the month, the East North Central had the only statistically significant jobless rate change (-0.3 percentage point). Four of the 9 divisions had significant rate changes from a year earlier, all of which were declines. The largest of these decreases occurred in the East South Central and South Atlantic (-0.8 percentage point each).
State Unemployment
South Dakota and New Hampshire had the lowest jobless rates in July, 2.8 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively. Alaska had the highest unemployment rate, 6.7 percent. In total, 20 states had unemployment rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 4.9 percent, 14 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 16 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 3.)
In July, seven states had statistically significant unemployment rate increases, the largest of which occurred in Oregon (+0.4 percentage point). Three states had notable rate decreases, the largest of which occurred in Illinois (-0.4 percentage point). The remaining 40 states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that were not significantly 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.)
Ten states and the District of Columbia had statistically significant unemployment rate decreases from July 2015. The largest declines were in Arkansas and Tennessee (-1.3 percentage points each), followed by West Virginia (-1.2 points). The significant over-the-year rate increases occurred in Wyoming (+1.4 percentage points), Iowa (+0.5 point), and North Dakota (+0.4 point). (See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Fifteen states had statistically significant over-the-month increases in nonfarm payroll employment in July 2016. The largest job gains occurred in New York (+37,500), California (+36,400), and Florida (+28,100). In percentage terms, the largest increases occurred in North Dakota and Vermont (+1.0 percent each), followed by Maine (+0.7 percent). The only significant decrease in employment over the month occurred in Kansas (-5,600, or -0.4 percent). (See tables D and 5.)
Thirty-six states had statistically significant over-the-year changes in nonfarm payroll employment in July, 34 of which were increases. The largest job gains occurred in California (+374,600), Florida (+250,200), and Texas (+173,000). The largest percentage gain occurred in Idaho (+3.4 percent), followed by Oregon (+3.3 percent) and Florida and Utah (+3.1 percent each). Two states had significant over-the-year declines in employment: North Dakota (-9,900, or -2.2 percent) and Wyoming (-9,800, or -3.4 percent). (See table E.)
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The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for July is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for August is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
The charts/tables referenced above can be viewed at: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm
Source: www.bls.gov
