For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Friday, March 1, 2013 USDL-13-0340
Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
(NOTE: This release was reissued on Wednesday, April 3, 2013, to incorporate minor
corrections to employment and labor force estimates for Nebraska and, to an even
lesser extent, the six other states in the West North Central division, due to
an estimation error. Nebraska’s 2011 unemployment rate changed from 4.5 to 4.4
percent, and its 2011 employment-population ratio changed from 68.4 to 68.6
percent. Missouri’s 2011 employment-population ratio changed from 59.6 to 59.5
percent. The state employment-population ratio analysis, as well as tables A, 1,
and 2, have been modified accordingly.)
REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT -- 2012 ANNUAL AVERAGES
In 2012, annual average unemployment rates declined in 46 states and
the District of Columbia, rose in 2 states, and were unchanged in 2
states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-
population ratios increased in 26 states and the District of Columbia,
decreased in 18 states, and were unchanged in 6 states. The U.S.
jobless rate declined by 0.8 percentage point from the prior year to
8.1 percent, and the national employment-population ratio edged up to
58.6 percent.
Regional Unemployment
Three of the 4 regions had statistically significant unemployment
rate decreases from 2011. The West experienced the greatest decline
(-1.2 percentage points), followed by the South (-1.1 points) and Midwest
(-0.9 point). The West, at 9.2 percent, had the only jobless rate
significantly higher than that of the U.S. in 2012. The Midwest and
South, at 7.4 and 7.7 percent, respectively, had rates significantly
below the national figure. (See table 1.)
Eight of the 9 geographic divisions had statistically significant
over-the-year unemployment rate changes in 2012, all of which were
decreases. The largest of these occurred in the East South Central
(-1.3 percentage points) and Pacific (-1.2 points). For the fifth year
in a row, the Pacific had the highest unemployment rate, 9.8 percent
in 2012. The next highest rate was in the Middle Atlantic, at 8.5
percent. The rates of both of these divisions were significantly above
the U.S. average. The West North Central division again had the lowest
jobless rate, 5.6 percent. Two other divisions, the West South Central
and New England, at 6.6 and 7.2 percent, respectively, also had rates
significantly below the national figure.
State Unemployment
In 2012, 41 states and the District of Columbia had statistically
significant unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which were in
Nevada (-2.1 percentage points), Florida (-1.7 points), and Missouri
(-1.5 points). Twelve additional states and the District of Columbia
experienced decreases greater than 1.0 percentage point. The remaining
nine states had annual average unemployment rates for 2012 that were
not appreciably different from those of the previous year, though some
had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant
changes. (See table A.)
Three states had unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more in 2012.
Nevada again had the highest unemployment rate (11.1 percent), followed
by California (10.5 percent) and Rhode Island (10.4 percent). North
Dakota had the lowest jobless rate among states for the fourth year
in a row (3.1 percent), followed by Nebraska (3.9 percent) and
South Dakota (4.4 percent). Overall, 27 states had unemployment rates
that were significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 8.1 percent, while
13 states and the District of Columbia had rates significantly above
it. (See table B.)
Regional Employment-Population Ratios
In 2012, the South was the only region to have a statistically
significant change (+0.3 percentage point) in its employment-
population ratio--the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years of age and over with a job. The Midwest continued
to have the highest ratio, 60.5 percent. The West had the lowest ratio,
at 57.7 percent, followed by the South, at 57.9 percent. These three
regions had employment-population ratios that were significantly
different from the national figure of 58.6 percent. (See table 2.)
The South Atlantic was the only division to have a statistically
significant change in its employment-population ratio in 2012 (+0.4
percentage point). The East South Central again had the lowest
proportion of employed persons, 55.4 percent. The next lowest ratios
were in the Pacific (57.1 percent), South Atlantic (57.7 percent),
and Middle Atlantic (57.8 percent). Ratios in all four of these
divisions were significantly below the national average. The division
with the highest employment-population ratio was the West North
Central, at 64.5 percent, followed by New England, at 61.3 percent.
These two divisions, along with the West South Central, at 59.6
percent, had employment-population ratios measurably above that
of the U.S.
State Employment-Population Ratios
In 2012, six states had statistically significant employment-population
ratio increases: Montana (+0.9 percentage point), Florida and Nebraska
(+0.8 point each), Kentucky and North Dakota (+0.6 point each), and
California (+0.4 point). The District of Columbia also had a statistically
significant increase (+2.1 percentage points). Connecticut and Iowa had
the only significant employment-population ratio declines among states
(-0.7 percentage point each). The remaining 42 states had proportions
that were not significantly different from those of a year earlier,
though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the
significant changes.
West Virginia again had the lowest employment-population ratio among
the states, 50.2 percent in 2012. West Virginia has had the lowest
employment-population ratio each year since the series began in 1976.
Four states in the West North Central division again had the highest
ratios: North Dakota (69.7 percent), Nebraska (69.4 percent), South
Dakota (67.3 percent), and Minnesota (66.9 percent). Overall, 23 states
and the District of Columbia had employment-population ratios that were
significantly above the U.S. ratio of 58.6 percent and 16 states had
ratios that were appreciably below it. The remaining 11 states had ratios
that were not significantly different from that of the nation.
(See table C.)
_________________
The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for
January 2013 is scheduled to be released on Monday, March 18, 2013,
at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment
news release for January 2013 is scheduled to be released on Friday,
March 22, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).
Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes,
2011-12 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-------------------------| Over-the-year
State | | | rate change
| 2011 | 2012 |
--------------------------------|------------|------------|---------------
Alabama ........................| 8.7 | 7.3 | -1.4
Alaska .........................| 7.6 | 7.0 | -.6
Arizona ........................| 9.4 | 8.3 | -1.1
Arkansas .......................| 7.9 | 7.3 | -.6
California .....................| 11.8 | 10.5 | -1.3
Colorado .......................| 8.6 | 8.0 | -.6
Connecticut ....................| 8.9 | 8.4 | -.5
District of Columbia ...........| 10.1 | 8.9 | -1.2
Florida ........................| 10.3 | 8.6 | -1.7
Georgia ........................| 9.9 | 9.0 | -.9
| | |
Hawaii .........................| 6.5 | 5.8 | -.7
Idaho ..........................| 8.3 | 7.1 | -1.2
Illinois .......................| 9.7 | 8.9 | -.8
Iowa ...........................| 5.9 | 5.2 | -.7
Kansas .........................| 6.5 | 5.7 | -.8
Kentucky .......................| 9.5 | 8.2 | -1.3
Louisiana ......................| 7.3 | 6.4 | -.9
Maryland .......................| 7.3 | 6.8 | -.5
Massachusetts ..................| 7.3 | 6.7 | -.6
Michigan .......................| 10.4 | 9.1 | -1.3
| | |
Minnesota ......................| 6.5 | 5.6 | -.9
Mississippi ....................| 10.5 | 9.2 | -1.3
Missouri .......................| 8.4 | 6.9 | -1.5
Montana ........................| 6.6 | 6.0 | -.6
Nebraska .......................| 4.4 | 3.9 | -.5
Nevada .........................| 13.2 | 11.1 | -2.1
North Carolina .................| 10.2 | 9.5 | -.7
North Dakota ...................| 3.5 | 3.1 | -.4
Ohio ...........................| 8.6 | 7.2 | -1.4
Oklahoma .......................| 5.9 | 5.2 | -.7
| | |
Oregon .........................| 9.6 | 8.7 | -.9
Rhode Island ...................| 11.2 | 10.4 | -.8
South Carolina .................| 10.4 | 9.1 | -1.3
South Dakota ...................| 4.8 | 4.4 | -.4
Tennessee ......................| 9.3 | 8.0 | -1.3
Texas ..........................| 7.9 | 6.8 | -1.1
Utah ...........................| 6.9 | 5.7 | -1.2
Vermont ........................| 5.6 | 5.0 | -.6
Virginia .......................| 6.4 | 5.9 | -.5
Washington .....................| 9.2 | 8.2 | -1.0
Wisconsin ......................| 7.5 | 6.9 | -.6
Wyoming ........................| 6.1 | 5.4 | -.7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table B. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., 2012 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States .......................| 8.1
|
Alaska ..............................| 7.0
Arkansas ............................| 7.3
California ..........................| 10.5
Delaware ............................| 7.1
District of Columbia ................| 8.9
Florida .............................| 8.6
Georgia .............................| 9.0
Hawaii ..............................| 5.8
Idaho ...............................| 7.1
Illinois ............................| 8.9
|
Iowa ................................| 5.2
Kansas ..............................| 5.7
Louisiana ...........................| 6.4
Maine ...............................| 7.3
Maryland ............................| 6.8
Massachusetts .......................| 6.7
Michigan ............................| 9.1
Minnesota ...........................| 5.6
Mississippi .........................| 9.2
Missouri ............................| 6.9
|
Montana .............................| 6.0
Nebraska ............................| 3.9
Nevada ..............................| 11.1
New Hampshire .......................| 5.5
New Jersey ..........................| 9.5
New Mexico ..........................| 6.9
New York ............................| 8.5
North Carolina ......................| 9.5
North Dakota ........................| 3.1
Ohio ................................| 7.2
|
Oklahoma ............................| 5.2
Oregon ..............................| 8.7
Rhode Island ........................| 10.4
South Carolina ......................| 9.1
South Dakota ........................| 4.4
Texas ...............................| 6.8
Utah ................................| 5.7
Vermont .............................| 5.0
Virginia ............................| 5.9
Wisconsin ...........................| 6.9
Wyoming .............................| 5.4
--------------------------------------------------------------
Table C. States with employment-population ratios significantly
different from that of the U.S., 2012 annual averages
----------------------------------------------------------------
State | Ratio
----------------------------------------------------------------
United States .......................| 58.6
|
Alabama .............................| 53.3
Alaska ..............................| 63.5
Arizona .............................| 55.6
Arkansas ............................| 55.5
California ..........................| 56.4
Colorado ............................| 63.2
Connecticut .........................| 60.6
Delaware ............................| 57.3
District of Columbia ................| 62.9
Florida .............................| 55.4
|
Idaho ...............................| 60.2
Illinois ............................| 60.2
Iowa ................................| 65.0
Kansas ..............................| 64.5
Kentucky ............................| 56.3
Louisiana ...........................| 55.7
Maine ...............................| 60.5
Maryland ............................| 63.2
Massachusetts .......................| 60.8
Michigan ............................| 54.4
|
Minnesota ...........................| 66.9
Mississippi .........................| 53.7
Montana .............................| 60.2
Nebraska ............................| 69.4
New Hampshire .......................| 65.7
New Jersey ..........................| 59.7
New Mexico ..........................| 54.8
New York ............................| 56.4
North Carolina ......................| 57.1
North Dakota ........................| 69.7
|
South Carolina ......................| 53.9
South Dakota ........................| 67.3
Tennessee ...........................| 57.0
Texas ...............................| 60.8
Utah ................................| 62.9
Vermont .............................| 66.2
Virginia ............................| 62.7
West Virginia .......................| 50.2
Wisconsin ...........................| 63.3
Wyoming .............................| 65.1
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