Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 USDL 09-0680
http://www.bls.gov/sae/
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392
http://www.bls.gov/lau/ For release: 10:00 A.M. (EDT)
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Friday, June 19, 2009
REGIONAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT: MAY 2009
Regional and state unemployment rates were nearly all higher in
May. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia recorded
over-the-month unemployment rate increases, 1 state registered a
rate decrease, and 1 state had no rate change, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Over
the year, jobless rates were higher in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia. The national unemployment rate rose from
8.9 percent in April to 9.4 percent in May, which was 3.9 per-
centage points higher than a year earlier.
In May, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 39 states and
increased in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The largest
over-the-month decrease in the level of employment occurred in
California (-68,900), followed by Florida (-61,000), Texas
(-24,700), and Michigan (-23,900). Arizona and Florida experi-
enced the largest over-the-month percentage decreases in employ-
ment (-0.8 percent each), followed by Oklahoma (-0.7 percent)
and Arkansas, Kentucky, and Michigan (-0.6 percent each). The
largest over-the-month increases in employment occurred in
Massachusetts (4,900), Connecticut (3,600), North Dakota (3,000),
and Alaska (2,900). Alaska (+0.9 percent) experienced the largest
over-the-month percentage increase, followed by North Dakota
(+0.8 percent) and Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Mexico
(+0.2 percent each). Over the year, nonfarm employment decreased
in 48 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 1 state,
and remained unchanged in 1 state. The largest over-the-year per-
centage decreases occurred in Arizona (-7.4 percent), Michigan
(-7.2 percent), Nevada (-6.1 percent), Idaho (-5.5 percent),
Oregon (-5.4 percent), and Florida (-5.3 percent). Only North
Dakota (+1.4 percent) reported an over-the-year percentage in-
crease, and Alaska (0.0 percent) reported no over-the-year percent-
age change.
Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
In May, the West reported the highest regional jobless rate,
10.1 percent, followed by the Midwest, 9.8 percent. The last time
any region had a rate of at least 10.0 percent was September 1983,
when the Midwest posted a rate of 10.1 percent. The Northeast re-
corded the lowest rate in May, 8.3 percent. All four regions re-
gistered statistically significant unemployment rate increases
from April, led by the Midwest (+0.6 percentage point). All four
regions also reported significant jobless rate increases from May
2008, the largest of which was in the West (+4.2 percentage points).
(See table 1.)
- 2 -
Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific and East North
Central reported the highest unemployment rates in May, 11.1 and 11.0
percent, respectively. The Pacific rate was the highest on record
for that division; the South Atlantic, at 9.6 percent, also posted a
series high. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.)
The West South Central registered the lowest jobless rate, 7.0 percent
in May. Eight of the 9 divisions experienced statistically signifi-
cant over-the-month unemployment rate changes, all of which were in-
creases: the East North Central and East South Central (+0.7 percent-
age point each); Mountain, South Atlantic, West North Central, and
West South Central (+0.5 point each); and Middle Atlantic and Pacific
(+0.4 point each). All nine divisions had significant over-the-year
rate increases, with the Pacific and East North Central recording the
largest changes (+4.7 and +4.6 percentage points, respectively).
State Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Michigan again reported the highest jobless rate, 14.1 percent in
May. The states with the next highest rates were Oregon, 12.4 percent;
Rhode Island and South Carolina, 12.1 percent each; California, 11.5
percent; Nevada, 11.3 percent; and North Carolina, 11.1 percent. Six
additional states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment
rates of at least 10.0 percent. The California, Nevada, North Carolina,
Oregon, Rhode Island, and South Carolina rates were the highest on re-
cord for those states. Florida, at 10.2 percent, and Georgia, at 9.7
percent, also posted series highs. Nebraska and North Dakota registered
the lowest unemployment rates, 4.4 percent each. Overall, 12 states
and the District of Columbia had significantly higher jobless rates than
the U.S. figure of 9.4 percent, 29 states reported measurably lower rates,
and 9 states had rates little different from that of the nation.
(See tables A and 3.)
Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically
significant over-the-month unemployment rate increases in May. Michigan
reported the largest of these (+1.2 percentage points), followed by Rhode
Island (+1.0 point) and Missouri and West Virginia (+0.9 point each).
Fifteen states registered May unemployment rates that were not appreciably
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.)
Oregon reported the largest jobless rate increase from a year earlier
(+6.7 percentage points), followed by Michigan (+5.9 points) and South
Carolina (+5.8 points). Thirteen additional states and the District of
Columbia recorded rate increases of 4.0 percentage points or more. The
remaining 34 states had smaller, but also statistically significant, rate
increases from May 2008. (See table C.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
Between April and May 2009, 14 states experienced statistically sig-
nificant changes in employment; 12 states reported declines and 2 re-
ported gains in that time period. California (-68,900) and Florida
(-61,000) reported the largest statistically significant decreases. (See
tables D and 5.) North Dakota (+3,000) and Alaska (+2,900) experienced
statistically significant increases in employment.
- 3 -
Over the year, 45 states experienced statistically significant changes
in employment, all decreases. The states with the largest statistically
significant job losses were California (-744,000), Florida (-417,500),
Michigan (-302,800), Illinois (-273,500), and Ohio (-262,100). Four states
recorded statistically significant decreases in employment that were less
than 15,000: New Hampshire (-14,800), Vermont (-13,300), Montana (-8,400),
and South Dakota (-6,800). (See table E.)
______________________________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment release for May is
scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, June 30. The Regional and State
Employment and Unemployment release for June is scheduled to be issued
on Friday, July 17.
- 4 -
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly differ-
ent from that of the U.S., May 2009, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 9.4
|
Alaska ..............................| 8.4
Arizona .............................| 8.2
Arkansas ............................| 7.0
California ..........................| 11.5
Colorado ............................| 7.6
Connecticut .........................| 8.0
Delaware ............................| 8.1
District of Columbia ................| 10.7
Florida .............................| 10.2
Hawaii ..............................| 7.4
|
Idaho ...............................| 7.8
Indiana .............................| 10.6
Iowa ................................| 5.8
Kansas ..............................| 7.0
Kentucky ............................| 10.6
Louisiana ...........................| 6.6
Maine ...............................| 8.3
Maryland ............................| 7.2
Massachusetts .......................| 8.2
Michigan ............................| 14.1
|
Minnesota ...........................| 8.2
Montana .............................| 6.3
Nebraska ............................| 4.4
Nevada ..............................| 11.3
New Hampshire .......................| 6.5
New Mexico ..........................| 6.5
New York ............................| 8.2
North Carolina ......................| 11.1
North Dakota ........................| 4.4
Ohio ................................| 10.8
|
Oklahoma ............................| 6.3
Oregon ..............................| 12.4
Pennsylvania ........................| 8.2
Rhode Island ........................| 12.1
South Carolina ......................| 12.1
South Dakota ........................| 5.0
|
Tennessee ...........................| 10.7
Texas ...............................| 7.1
Utah ................................| 5.4
Vermont .............................| 7.3
Virginia ............................| 7.1
Wyoming .............................| 5.0
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 Data are not preliminary.
p = preliminary.
- 5 -
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from April 2009 to May 2009, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | April | May | rate change(p)
| 2009 | 2009(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 9.0 | 9.8 | 0.8
Alaska .........................| 7.9 | 8.4 | .5
Arizona ........................| 7.7 | 8.2 | .5
Arkansas .......................| 6.5 | 7.0 | .5
California .....................| 11.1 | 11.5 | .4
Delaware .......................| 7.4 | 8.1 | .7
District of Columbia ...........| 9.9 | 10.7 | .8
Florida ........................| 9.7 | 10.2 | .5
Georgia ........................| 9.2 | 9.7 | .5
Hawaii .........................| 6.9 | 7.4 | .5
| | |
Idaho ..........................| 7.0 | 7.8 | .8
Illinois .......................| 9.4 | 10.1 | .7
Indiana ........................| 9.9 | 10.6 | .7
Iowa ...........................| 5.1 | 5.8 | .7
Kansas .........................| 6.5 | 7.0 | .5
Kentucky .......................| 9.9 | 10.6 | .7
Maryland .......................| 6.8 | 7.2 | .4
Michigan .......................| 12.9 | 14.1 | 1.2
Missouri .......................| 8.1 | 9.0 | .9
Montana ........................| 6.0 | 6.3 | .3
| | |
New Jersey .....................| 8.4 | 8.8 | .4
New Mexico .....................| 5.8 | 6.5 | .7
New York .......................| 7.7 | 8.2 | .5
North Carolina .................| 10.7 | 11.1 | .4
North Dakota ...................| 4.1 | 4.4 | .3
Ohio ...........................| 10.2 | 10.8 | .6
Oregon .........................| 11.8 | 12.4 | .6
Pennsylvania ...................| 7.8 | 8.2 | .4
Rhode Island ...................| 11.1 | 12.1 | 1.0
South Carolina .................| 11.4 | 12.1 | .7
| | |
South Dakota ...................| 4.8 | 5.0 | .2
Tennessee ......................| 9.9 | 10.7 | .8
Texas ..........................| 6.6 | 7.1 | .5
Virginia .......................| 6.8 | 7.1 | .3
Washington .....................| 9.0 | 9.4 | .4
West Virginia ..................| 7.7 | 8.6 | .9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
- 6 -
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from May 2008 to May 2009, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | May | May | rate change(p)
| 2008 | 2009(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 4.7 | 9.8 | 5.1
Alaska .........................| 6.6 | 8.4 | 1.8
Arizona ........................| 5.2 | 8.2 | 3.0
Arkansas .......................| 4.9 | 7.0 | 2.1
California .....................| 6.8 | 11.5 | 4.7
Colorado .......................| 4.7 | 7.6 | 2.9
Connecticut ....................| 5.4 | 8.0 | 2.6
Delaware .......................| 4.4 | 8.1 | 3.7
District of Columbia ...........| 6.6 | 10.7 | 4.1
Florida ........................| 5.8 | 10.2 | 4.4
| | |
Georgia ........................| 5.9 | 9.7 | 3.8
Hawaii .........................| 3.6 | 7.4 | 3.8
Idaho ..........................| 4.5 | 7.8 | 3.3
Illinois .......................| 6.4 | 10.1 | 3.7
Indiana ........................| 5.3 | 10.6 | 5.3
Iowa ...........................| 4.0 | 5.8 | 1.8
Kansas .........................| 4.3 | 7.0 | 2.7
Kentucky .......................| 6.2 | 10.6 | 4.4
Louisiana ......................| 4.1 | 6.6 | 2.5
Maine ..........................| 5.1 | 8.3 | 3.2
| | |
Maryland .......................| 4.1 | 7.2 | 3.1
Massachusetts ..................| 4.9 | 8.2 | 3.3
Michigan .......................| 8.2 | 14.1 | 5.9
Minnesota ......................| 5.3 | 8.2 | 2.9
Mississippi ....................| 6.8 | 9.6 | 2.8
Missouri .......................| 5.8 | 9.0 | 3.2
Montana ........................| 4.3 | 6.3 | 2.0
Nebraska .......................| 3.2 | 4.4 | 1.2
Nevada .........................| 6.1 | 11.3 | 5.2
New Hampshire ..................| 3.7 | 6.5 | 2.8
| | |
New Jersey .....................| 5.1 | 8.8 | 3.7
New Mexico .....................| 4.0 | 6.5 | 2.5
New York .......................| 5.2 | 8.2 | 3.0
North Carolina .................| 5.9 | 11.1 | 5.2
North Dakota ...................| 3.1 | 4.4 | 1.3
Ohio ...........................| 6.3 | 10.8 | 4.5
Oklahoma .......................| 3.6 | 6.3 | 2.7
Oregon .........................| 5.7 | 12.4 | 6.7
Pennsylvania ...................| 5.1 | 8.2 | 3.1
Rhode Island ...................| 7.4 | 12.1 | 4.7
| | |
South Carolina .................| 6.3 | 12.1 | 5.8
South Dakota ...................| 2.9 | 5.0 | 2.1
Tennessee ......................| 6.2 | 10.7 | 4.5
Texas ..........................| 4.7 | 7.1 | 2.4
Utah ...........................| 3.3 | 5.4 | 2.1
Vermont ........................| 4.5 | 7.3 | 2.8
Virginia .......................| 3.8 | 7.1 | 3.3
Washington .....................| 5.1 | 9.4 | 4.3
West Virginia ..................| 4.3 | 8.6 | 4.3
Wisconsin ......................| 4.4 | 8.9 | 4.5
Wyoming ........................| 3.0 | 5.0 | 2.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
- 7 -
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
April 2009 to May 2009, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| April | May | Over-the-month
State | 2009 | 2009(p) | change(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska........................| 320,900 | 323,800 | 2,900
Arizona.......................| 2,462,300 | 2,443,400 | -18,900
Arkansas......................| 1,179,200 | 1,172,300 | -6,900
California....................| 14,412,300 | 14,343,400 | -68,900
Florida.......................| 7,450,100 | 7,389,100 | -61,000
Georgia.......................| 3,933,500 | 3,917,700 | -15,800
Illinois......................| 5,717,800 | 5,700,400 | -17,400
Indiana.......................| 2,836,000 | 2,820,800 | -15,200
Kentucky......................| 1,790,300 | 1,778,800 | -11,500
Michigan......................| 3,901,500 | 3,877,600 | -23,900
| | |
North Carolina................| 3,949,500 | 3,937,000 | -12,500
North Dakota..................| 368,400 | 371,400 | 3,000
Oklahoma......................| 1,569,100 | 1,557,700 | -11,400
Pennsylvania..................| 5,648,300 | 5,630,600 | -17,700
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
- 8 -
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
May 2008 to May 2009, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| May | May | Over-the-year
State | 2008 | 2009(p) | change(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................| 2,004,600 | 1,910,200 | -94,400
Arizona.......................| 2,638,400 | 2,443,400 | -195,000
Arkansas......................| 1,205,600 | 1,172,300 | -33,300
California....................| 15,087,400 | 14,343,400 | -744,000
Colorado......................| 2,358,400 | 2,261,600 | -96,800
Connecticut...................| 1,707,300 | 1,643,900 | -63,400
Delaware......................| 434,200 | 415,400 | -18,800
Florida.......................| 7,806,600 | 7,389,100 | -417,500
Georgia.......................| 4,129,200 | 3,917,700 | -211,500
Hawaii........................| 622,600 | 601,600 | -21,000
| | |
Idaho.........................| 651,400 | 615,300 | -36,100
Illinois......................| 5,973,900 | 5,700,400 | -273,500
Indiana.......................| 2,976,800 | 2,820,800 | -156,000
Iowa..........................| 1,527,500 | 1,484,400 | -43,100
Kansas........................| 1,394,300 | 1,357,500 | -36,800
Kentucky......................| 1,864,100 | 1,778,800 | -85,300
Maine.........................| 619,300 | 597,700 | -21,600
Maryland......................| 2,610,800 | 2,545,700 | -65,100
Massachusetts.................| 3,300,100 | 3,189,000 | -111,100
Michigan......................| 4,180,400 | 3,877,600 | -302,800
| | |
Minnesota.....................| 2,768,500 | 2,667,500 | -101,000
Mississippi...................| 1,154,900 | 1,117,100 | -37,800
Missouri......................| 2,798,200 | 2,723,900 | -74,300
Montana.......................| 447,200 | 438,800 | -8,400
Nevada........................| 1,276,800 | 1,199,300 | -77,500
New Hampshire.................| 646,900 | 632,100 | -14,800
New Jersey....................| 4,070,200 | 3,935,100 | -135,100
New Mexico....................| 847,700 | 826,900 | -20,800
New York......................| 8,808,100 | 8,609,600 | -198,500
North Carolina................| 4,149,000 | 3,937,000 | -212,000
| | |
Ohio..........................| 5,394,800 | 5,132,700 | -262,100
Oklahoma......................| 1,597,600 | 1,557,700 | -39,900
Oregon........................| 1,729,200 | 1,635,900 | -93,300
Pennsylvania..................| 5,815,600 | 5,630,600 | -185,000
Rhode Island..................| 484,200 | 463,500 | -20,700
South Carolina................| 1,944,500 | 1,852,000 | -92,500
South Dakota..................| 411,300 | 404,500 | -6,800
Tennessee.....................| 2,796,300 | 2,663,900 | -132,400
Texas.........................| 10,624,500 | 10,401,900 | -222,600
Utah..........................| 1,257,700 | 1,215,800 | -41,900
| | |
Vermont.......................| 308,800 | 295,500 | -13,300
Virginia......................| 3,768,100 | 3,674,800 | -93,300
Washington....................| 2,969,300 | 2,866,100 | -103,200
West Virginia.................| 762,200 | 738,000 | -24,200
Wisconsin.....................| 2,882,700 | 2,750,200 | -132,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
p = preliminary.
