 Employment increased in 32 states, dropped in 17
WASHINGTON (Aug. 19, 2013) — Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in July. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases, 8 states had decreases, and 14 states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Thirty-six states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, nine states had increases, and five states had no change. The national jobless rate edged down to 7.4 percent from June and was 0.8 percentage point lower than in July 2012.
In July 2013, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 32 states, decreased in 17 states and the District of Columbia, and was unchanged in South Dakota. The largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in California (+38,100), Georgia (+30,900), and Florida (+27,600). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in New Jersey (-11,800), followed by Nevada (-10,200) and Maryland (-9,200). The largest over-the-month percentage increases in employment occurred in Georgia, Utah, and West Virginia (+0.8 percent each). The largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment occurred in Nevada (-0.9 percent), followed by New Hampshire (-0.5 percent) and Maryland (-0.4 percent). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in Alaska. The largest over-the-year percentage increase occurred in Utah (+3.2 percent), followed by Arizona (+3.1 percent) and Georgia (+2.8 percent). The only over-the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in Alaska (-0.5 percent).
Regional unemployment (seasonally adjusted)
In July, the West continued to have the highest regional unemployment rate, 7.9 percent, while the Midwest and South had the lowest rates, 7.3 percent each. Over the month, no region had a statistically significant unemployment rate change. Significant over-the-year rate changes occurred in three regions: the West (-1.4 percentage points), Northeast (-0.8 point), and South (-0.5 point).
Among the nine geographic divisions, the East North Central and Pacific had the highest jobless rates, 8.2 percent each in July. The West North Central again had the lowest rate, 5.5 percent. No division had a statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate change. Four divisions had significant rate changes from a year earlier: the Pacific (-1.7 percentage points), Middle Atlantic (-1.0 point), Mountain (-0.9 point), and South Atlantic (-0.8 point).
State unemployment (seasonally adjusted)
Nevada had the highest unemployment rate among the states in July, 9.5 percent. The next highest rate was in Illinois, 9.2 percent. North Dakota continued to have the lowest jobless rate, 3.0 percent. In total, 17 states had jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 7.4 percent, 11 states and the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 22 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.
Eight states had statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate changes in July, of which seven were increases. The significant increases occurred in Alaska and Georgia (+0.3 percentage point each) and California, Iowa, Nebraska, Vermont, and Virginia (+0.2 point each). The only significant rate decrease was in Mississippi (-0.5 percentage point). The remaining 42 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.
Thirteen states had statistically significant unemployment rate changes from July 2012, all of which were declines. The largest of these occurred in California (-1.9 percentage points).
Nonfarm payroll employment (seasonally adjusted)
In July 2013, 16 states had statistically significant over-the-month changes in employment, 12 of which were increases. The largest statistically significant job gain occurred in California (+38,100), followed by Georgia (+30,900) and Florida (+27,600). The largest statistically significant job decreases occurred in New Jersey (-11,800) and Nevada (-10,200).
Over the year, 33 states had statistically significant changes in employment, all of which were positive. The largest over-the-year job increase occurred in Texas (+293,000), followed by California (+236,400) and Florida (+143,700).
Add Comment