Unemployment rates were lower in January in 5 states, higher in 2 states and the District of Columbia, and stable in 43 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
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Fifteen states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 11 states had increases, and 24 states had little change.
The national unemployment rate, 3.4 percent, was little changed over the month, but was 0.6 percentage point lower than in January 2022.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 20 states and was essentially unchanged in 30 states and the District of Columbia in January 2023.
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 47 states and was essentially unchanged in 3 states and the District.
North Dakota and South Dakota had the lowest jobless rates in January, 2.1 percent each.
The next lowest rates were in Utah, 2.4 percent, and Montana and Nebraska, 2.5 percent each.
Nevada had the highest unemployment rate, 5.5 percent.
In total, 13 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.4 percent, 11 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 26 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.
In January, five states had over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which were in Arizona and Nebraska (-0.2 percentage point each).
Two states and the District of Columbia had over-the-month increases, the largest of which was in the District (+0.2 percentage point).
Forty-three states 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.
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from January 2022, the largest of which was in New Mexico (-1.9 percentage points), followed by New Jersey (-1.7 points) and the District (-1.6 points).
Eleven states had over-the-year rate increases, the largest of which was in Oregon (+1.0 percentage point).
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 20 states and was essentially unchanged in 30 states and the District of Columbia in January 2023.
The largest job gains occurred in California (+96,700), Texas (+48,600), and Florida (+30,000).
The largest percentage increases occurred in Arizona and Tennessee (+0.7 percent each), followed by Kansas, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and New Mexico (+0.6 percent each).
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 47 states and was essentially unchanged in 3 states and the District of Columbia.
The largest job increases occurred in Texas (+654,100), California (+599,500), and Florida (+448,900).
The largest percentage increases occurred in Nevada (+6.0 percent), Texas (+5.0 percent), and Florida (+4.9 percent). ■
A very strong low pressure system currently just offshore of San Francisco Bay will continue to bring high winds, heavy rain, and heavy mountain snow for California and adjacent areas of the Southwest through tonight and Wednesday as the latest in a series of atmospheric rivers impacts the West.