Unemployment rates were higher in October in 26 states and stable in 24 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
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Twenty-one states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 12 states and the District had increases, and 17 states had little change. The national unemployment rate, 3.9 percent, changed little both over the month and over the year.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 1 state and was essentially unchanged in 49 states and the District of Columbia in October. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 34 states and was essentially unchanged in 16 states and the District.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households.
These data pertain to individuals by where they reside.
The employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on payrolls defined by where the establishments are located.
Maryland had the lowest jobless rate in October, 1.7 percent. The next lowest rate was in North Dakota, 1.9 percent. Nevada had the highest unemployment rate, 5.4 percent.
In total, 26 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.9 percent, 4 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 20 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.
In October, 26 states had over-the-month unemployment rate increases, all of which were 0.
percentage point or 0.1 point. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.
Twenty-one states had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in Maryland (-1.5 percentage points).
Twelve states and the District of Columbia had rate increases from October 2022, the largest of which was in New Jersey (+1.3 percentage points).
Seventeen states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 1 state and was essentially unchanged in 49 states and the District of Columbia in October 2023. The only job gain occurred in Florida (+28,400, or +0.3 percent).
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 34 states and was essentially unchanged in 16 states and the District of Columbia.
The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+391,500), California (+285,300), and Florida (+278,400). The largest percentage increases occurred in Idaho (+3.5 percent) and Nevada (+3.4 percent), followed by Florida and Texas (+2.9 percent each). ■