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Economic News Release
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Regional and State Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release

Technical information:
  Employment:   (202) 691-6559     USDL 09-0093
       http://www.bls.gov/sae/
  Unemployment: (202) 691-6392
       http://www.bls.gov/lau/     For release:  10:00 A.M. (EST)
Media contact:  (202) 691-5902     Tuesday, January 27, 2009


    REGIONAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT:  DECEMBER 2008


   Regional and state unemployment rates were universally higher in
December.  All 50 states and the District of Columbia recorded both
over-the-month and over-the-year unemployment rate increases, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported
today.  The national unemployment rate rose from 6.8 to 7.2 percent 
in December and was up by 2.3 percentage points from a year earlier.
   
   In December, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 1 state and 
the District of Columbia, decreased in 48 states, and was unchanged 
in 1 state (Oklahoma).  The only over-the-month increases in the level 
of employment were recorded in Louisiana (+3,700 or +0.2 percent) and 
the District of Columbia (+100 or less than +0.1 percent).  The largest 
over-the-month decrease in the level of employment was reported in 
California (-78,200), followed by Michigan (-59,000), New York (-54,000), 
Illinois (-36,000), Indiana (-35,300), and North Carolina (-34,900).  
Idaho (-1.6 percent) experienced the largest over-the-month percentage 
decrease in employment, followed by Michigan (-1.4 percent), Hawaii and 
Indiana (-1.2 percent each), and North Carolina and New Hampshire (-0.9 
percent each).  Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 8 states 
and the District of Columbia and decreased in 42 states.  Wyoming (+2.2 
percent) reported the largest over-the-year percentage increase in em-
ployment, followed by Texas (+1.5 percent), Oklahoma (+1.0 percent), 
Alaska (+0.9 percent), and South Dakota (+0.8 percent).  The largest 
over-the-year percentage decrease in employment was reported in Rhode 
Island (-4.5 percent), followed by Arizona and Idaho (-4.3 percent each), 
Michigan (-4.1 percent), and Indiana (-3.7 percent).
   
Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
   
   In December, the West and Midwest again posted the highest regional
jobless rates, 8.0 and 7.5 percent, respectively.  The Northeast and
South recorded the lowest unemployment rates, 7.0 percent each.  All
four regions registered statistically significant rate increases from
November:  the Northeast (+0.9 percentage point), West (+0.7 point),
and Midwest and South (+0.6 point each).  All four regions also reported 
significant jobless rate increases from December 2007:  the West (+2.9 
percentage points), South (+2.5 points), Northeast (+2.4 points), and 
Midwest (+2.2 points).  (See table 1.)


                               - 2 -

   
   Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific and East North
Central again recorded the highest unemployment rates in December, 8.8
and 8.2 percent, respectively.  The West North Central and West South
Central registered the lowest jobless rates, 5.9 percent each.  All
nine divisions reported statistically significant over-the-month unem-
ployment rate increases:  the East South Central and Middle Atlantic 
(+0.9 percentage point each); Pacific (+0.8 point); East North Central, 
New England, and South Atlantic (+0.7 point each); Mountain (+0.6 point); 
West North Central (+0.4 point); and West South Central (+0.3 point).  
Over the year, all nine divisions also had significant rate increases:  
the Pacific (+3.2 percentage points); South Atlantic (+3.1 points); East 
North Central, East South Central, and New England (+2.5 points each); 
Middle Atlantic (+2.4 points); Mountain (+2.3 points); and West North 
Central and West South Central (+1.5 points each).
   
State Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)
   
   In December, Michigan and Rhode Island reported the highest jobless
rates, 10.6 and 10.0 percent, respectively.  The Rhode Island rate was
the highest in its series.  (All state series begin in 1976.)  Four
additional states recorded rates of 9.0 percent or more:  South
Carolina, 9.5 percent; California, 9.3 percent; Nevada, 9.1 percent;
and Oregon, 9.0 percent.  Wyoming posted the lowest unemployment rate,
3.4 percent, followed closely by North Dakota at 3.5 percent.  Overall, 
10 states and the District of Columbia registered significantly higher 
jobless rates than the U.S. figure of 7.2 percent, 22 states reported 
measurably lower rates, and 18 states had rates little different from 
that of the nation.  (See tables A and 3.)
   
   Indiana and South Carolina recorded the largest over-the-month
unemployment rate increases in December (+1.1 percentage points each).
Six other states had increases of 1.0 percentage point:  Massachusetts, 
Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon.  Thirty-two addi-
tional states and the District of Columbia also experienced statisti-
cally significant rate increases.  The remaining 10 states registered 
December 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.)
   
   Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia had statistically
significant jobless rate increases from December 2007.  Rhode Island
reported the largest rate increase from a year earlier (+4.8 percent-
age points).  The states with the next largest rate increases were
North Carolina (+4.0 percentage points) and Nevada (+3.9 points).
Nine other states and the District of Columbia posted over-the-year
rate increases of 3.0 percentage points or more, and 36 additional
states had smaller, but also statistically significant, rate increases
from December 2007.  The remaining two states recorded December 2008
jobless rates that were not appreciably different from those of a year
earlier.  (See table C.)
   
Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)
   
   Between November and December 2008, 33 states reported statistically 
significant changes in employment, all of which were decreases.  The larg-
est statistically significant decreases in employment were experienced in 
California (-78,200), Michigan (-59,000), New York (-54,000), and Illinois
(-36,000).  (See tables D and 5.)


                               - 3 -
 
 
   Over the year, 30 states reported statistically significant changes in 
employment with only 1 of those being an increase.  The only statistically 
significant increase was recorded in Texas (+153,700).  The largest statisti-
cally significant over-the-year decreases occurred in California (-257,400), 
Florida (-255,200), Michigan (-173,000), and North Carolina (-120,200).  (See
table E.)


                    ______________________________


   The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment release for December 2008 
is scheduled to be issued on Wednesday, February 4.  The Regional and State 
Employment and Unemployment release for January 2009 is scheduled to be issued 
on Wednesday, March 11.





  ------------------------------------------------------------------
 |                                                                  |
 |                         Hurricane Katrina                        |
 |                                                                  |
 |    For December, BLS and its state partners continued to make    |
 | modifications to the usual estimation procedures for the LAUS    |
 | program to reflect the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the labor  |
 | force statistics in affected areas.  These modifications in-     |
 | cluded:  (1) modifying the state population controls to account  |
 | for displacement due to Katrina; (2) developing labor force      |
 | estimates for the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner metropolitan area  |
 | using an alternative to the model-based method; and (3) not pub- |
 | lishing labor force estimates for the months immediately fol-    |
 | lowing the hurricane for the parishes within the New Orleans-    |
 | Metairie-Kenner metropolitan area and cities within those par-   |
 | ishes, where the quality of input data was severely compromised  |
 | by the hurricane.                                                |
 |                                                                  |
 |    For more information on LAUS procedures and estimates for     |
 | December 2008, see Hurricane Information:  Katrina and Rita at   |
 | http://www.bls.gov/Katrina/home.htm or call (202) 691-6392.      |
 |                                                                  |
 |    This will be the last month this note will appear in this     |
 | news release, though the modifications to the estimation proce-  |
 | dures for the affected areas will continue until further notice. |
 |                                                                  |
  ------------------------------------------------------------------ 





  ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 |                                                                  |
 |   Upcoming Changes to Local Area Unemployment Statistics Data    |
 |                                                                  |
 |     Effective with the release of 2008 annual average estimates  |
 |  on February 27, the labor force data for regions, divisions,    |
 |  states, the District of Columbia, and the modeled substate      |
 |  areas presented in tables 1-4 of this news release will be      |
 |  revised to incorporate updated population controls, reesti-     |
 |  mation of models, and adjustment to new division and national   |
 |  control totals.  Revised seasonal adjustment factors will apply |
 |  to data tables 1 and 3 as well.  Both not seasonally adjusted   |
 |  and seasonally adjusted data are subject to revision back to    | 
 |  2004.  The updated population controls reflect the annual up-   | 
 |  dating of population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.       |
 |                                                                  |
  ------------------------------------------------------------------





                               - 4 -


  ------------------------------------------------------------------
 |                                                                  |
 |      Upcoming Changes to Current Employment Statistics Data      |
 |                                                                  |
 |    Effective with the release of January 2009 estimates, all non-|
 | farm payroll employment estimates for states and areas presented |
 | in tables 5 and 6 of this news release will be adjusted to 2008  |
 | benchmark levels.  Data in table 5 will be adjusted to incorpo-  |
 | rate new seasonal adjustment factors.  Not seasonally adjusted   |
 | payroll data back to April 2007 and seasonally adjusted data for |
 | states back to January 2004 will be subject to revision.         |
 |                                                                  |
  ------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      
  
  
      
  ------------------------------------------------------------------
 |                                                                  |
 |         Revisions to November 2008 Preliminary Current           |
 |                   Employment Statistics Data                     |
 |                                                                  |
 |    Revisions to the November 2008 preliminary Current Employment |
 | Statistics (CES) estimates were unusually large in many states.  |
 | The revisions reflect the routine incorporation of additional    |
 | sample reports, and the use of improved estimate review proce-   |
 | dures provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The     |
 | procedures are designed to improve the overall accuracy of indi- |
 | vidual state estimates bringing the aggregate employment change  |
 | across states into closer alignment with the change in national  |
 | employment reflected in the estimates produced and published by  |
 | BLS.  The new review procedures more closely align the state re- |
 | view process with the BLS review process.                        |
 |                                                                  |
 |    More detailed information on the changes to procedures for    |
 | producing CES estimates is available on the BLS Web site at      |
 | http://www.bls.gov/sae/cesprocs.htm.                             |
 |                                                                  |
  ------------------------------------------------------------------





                               - 5 -
 
 
Table A.  States with unemployment rates significantly differ-
ent from that of the U.S., December 2008, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
                State                |          Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................|           7.2
                                     |
Arkansas ............................|           6.2
California ..........................|           9.3
Colorado ............................|           6.1
Delaware ............................|           6.2
District of Columbia ................|           8.8
Florida .............................|           8.1
Georgia .............................|           8.1
Hawaii ..............................|           5.5
Indiana .............................|           8.2
Iowa ................................|           4.6
Kansas ..............................|           5.2
                                     |
Louisiana ...........................|           5.9
Maryland ............................|           5.8
Michigan ............................|          10.6
Montana .............................|           5.4
Nebraska ............................|           4.0
Nevada ..............................|           9.1
New Hampshire .......................|           4.6
New Mexico ..........................|           4.9
North Carolina ......................|           8.7
North Dakota ........................|           3.5
Oklahoma ............................|           4.9
                                     |
Oregon ..............................|           9.0
Rhode Island ........................|          10.0
South Carolina ......................|           9.5
South Dakota ........................|           3.9
Texas ...............................|           6.0
Utah ................................|           4.3
Vermont .............................|           6.4
Virginia ............................|           5.4
West Virginia .......................|           4.9
Wisconsin ...........................|           6.2
Wyoming .............................|           3.4
--------------------------------------------------------------
   1 Data are not preliminary.
   p = preliminary.
   
   



                               - 6 -
 
  
Table B.  States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from November 2008 to December 2008, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Rate         |
                                |-----------------------| Over-the-month
             State              |  November |  December | rate change(p)
                                |    2008   |   2008(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................|     6.0   |     6.7   |       0.7
Arizona ........................|     6.3   |     6.9   |        .6
Arkansas .......................|     5.7   |     6.2   |        .5
California .....................|     8.4   |     9.3   |        .9
Delaware .......................|     5.6   |     6.2   |        .6
District of Columbia ...........|     8.0   |     8.8   |        .8
Florida ........................|     7.4   |     8.1   |        .7
Georgia ........................|     7.4   |     8.1   |        .7
Hawaii .........................|     5.0   |     5.5   |        .5
Idaho ..........................|     5.7   |     6.4   |        .7
                                |           |           |
Indiana ........................|     7.1   |     8.2   |       1.1
Iowa ...........................|     4.3   |     4.6   |        .3
Kansas .........................|     4.9   |     5.2   |        .3
Kentucky .......................|     7.0   |     7.8   |        .8
Maine ..........................|     6.3   |     7.0   |        .7
Maryland .......................|     5.3   |     5.8   |        .5
Massachusetts ..................|     5.9   |     6.9   |       1.0
Michigan .......................|     9.6   |    10.6   |       1.0
Minnesota ......................|     6.4   |     6.9   |        .5
Mississippi ....................|     7.2   |     8.0   |        .8
                                |           |           |
Missouri .......................|     6.8   |     7.3   |        .5
Montana ........................|     4.9   |     5.4   |        .5
Nebraska .......................|     3.7   |     4.0   |        .3
Nevada .........................|     8.1   |     9.1   |       1.0
New Jersey .....................|     6.1   |     7.1   |       1.0
New Mexico .....................|     4.3   |     4.9   |        .6
New York .......................|     6.0   |     7.0   |       1.0
North Carolina .................|     7.8   |     8.7   |        .9
Ohio ...........................|     7.3   |     7.8   |        .5
Oregon .........................|     8.0   |     9.0   |       1.0
                                |           |           |
Pennsylvania ...................|     6.2   |     6.7   |        .5
Rhode Island ...................|     9.3   |    10.0   |        .7
South Carolina .................|     8.4   |     9.5   |       1.1
South Dakota ...................|     3.4   |     3.9   |        .5
Tennessee ......................|     7.0   |     7.9   |        .9
Texas ..........................|     5.7   |     6.0   |        .3
Utah ...........................|     3.7   |     4.3   |        .6
Vermont ........................|     5.7   |     6.4   |        .7
Virginia .......................|     4.8   |     5.4   |        .6
Washington .....................|     6.3   |     7.1   |        .8
Wisconsin ......................|     5.6   |     6.2   |        .6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
   p = preliminary.
   
   
   
    

                               - 7 -
      
   
Table C.  States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from December 2007 to December 2008, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                |          Rate         |
                                |-----------------------| Over-the-year
             State              |  December |  December | rate change(p)
                                |    2007   |   2008(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................|     3.7   |     6.7   |       3.0
Alaska .........................|     6.3   |     7.5   |       1.2
Arizona ........................|     4.2   |     6.9   |       2.7
Arkansas .......................|     5.5   |     6.2   |        .7
California .....................|     5.9   |     9.3   |       3.4
Colorado .......................|     4.0   |     6.1   |       2.1
Connecticut ....................|     4.8   |     7.1   |       2.3
Delaware .......................|     3.5   |     6.2   |       2.7
District of Columbia ...........|     5.7   |     8.8   |       3.1
Florida ........................|     4.5   |     8.1   |       3.6
                                |           |           | 
Georgia ........................|     4.5   |     8.1   |       3.6
Hawaii .........................|     3.1   |     5.5   |       2.4
Idaho ..........................|     2.7   |     6.4   |       3.7
Illinois .......................|     5.3   |     7.6   |       2.3
Indiana ........................|     4.5   |     8.2   |       3.7
Iowa ...........................|     3.8   |     4.6   |        .8
Kansas .........................|     4.2   |     5.2   |       1.0
Kentucky .......................|     5.3   |     7.8   |       2.5
Louisiana ......................|     4.0   |     5.9   |       1.9
Maine ..........................|     4.9   |     7.0   |       2.1
                                |           |           | 
Maryland .......................|     3.6   |     5.8   |       2.2
Massachusetts ..................|     4.3   |     6.9   |       2.6
Michigan .......................|     7.4   |    10.6   |       3.2
Minnesota ......................|     4.7   |     6.9   |       2.2
Mississippi ....................|     6.3   |     8.0   |       1.7
Missouri .......................|     5.3   |     7.3   |       2.0
Montana ........................|     3.2   |     5.4   |       2.2
Nebraska .......................|     2.8   |     4.0   |       1.2
Nevada .........................|     5.2   |     9.1   |       3.9
New Hampshire ..................|     3.4   |     4.6   |       1.2
                                |           |           | 
New Jersey .....................|     4.2   |     7.1   |       2.9
New Mexico .....................|     3.2   |     4.9   |       1.7
New York .......................|     4.6   |     7.0   |       2.4
North Carolina .................|     4.7   |     8.7   |       4.0
North Dakota ...................|     3.2   |     3.5   |        .3
Ohio ...........................|     5.8   |     7.8   |       2.0
Oklahoma .......................|     4.1   |     4.9   |        .8
Oregon .........................|     5.4   |     9.0   |       3.6
Pennsylvania ...................|     4.4   |     6.7   |       2.3
Rhode Island ...................|     5.2   |    10.0   |       4.8
                                |           |           | 
South Carolina .................|     6.2   |     9.5   |       3.3
South Dakota ...................|     2.9   |     3.9   |       1.0
Tennessee ......................|     5.0   |     7.9   |       2.9
Texas ..........................|     4.2   |     6.0   |       1.8
Utah ...........................|     2.9   |     4.3   |       1.4
Vermont ........................|     3.9   |     6.4   |       2.5
Virginia .......................|     3.2   |     5.4   |       2.2
Washington .....................|     4.6   |     7.1   |       2.5
Wisconsin ......................|     4.8   |     6.2   |       1.4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
   p = preliminary.





                               - 8 -
 
 
Table D.  States with statistically significant employment changes from
November 2008 to December 2008, seasonally adjusted

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |   November  |   December  | Over-the-month
           State              |     2008    |    2008(p)  |    change(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................|   1,990,200 |   1,976,300 |     -13,900
Arizona.......................|   2,560,600 |   2,543,900 |     -16,700
Arkansas......................|   1,195,400 |   1,187,700 |      -7,700
California....................|  14,991,800 |  14,913,600 |     -78,200
Colorado......................|   2,345,700 |   2,332,400 |     -13,300
Connecticut...................|   1,688,700 |   1,677,200 |     -11,500
Georgia.......................|   4,064,000 |   4,041,300 |     -22,700
Hawaii........................|     620,300 |     612,600 |      -7,700
Idaho.........................|     638,700 |     628,800 |      -9,900
Illinois......................|   5,921,800 |   5,885,800 |     -36,000
                              |             |             |            
Indiana.......................|   2,918,300 |   2,883,000 |     -35,300
Iowa..........................|   1,521,100 |   1,513,300 |      -7,800
Kansas........................|   1,392,200 |   1,385,500 |      -6,700
Kentucky......................|   1,859,000 |   1,843,200 |     -15,800
Massachusetts.................|   3,260,900 |   3,244,100 |     -16,800
Michigan......................|   4,113,600 |   4,054,600 |     -59,000
Minnesota.....................|   2,732,200 |   2,720,400 |     -11,800
Mississippi...................|   1,136,200 |   1,128,400 |      -7,800
New Hampshire.................|     653,100 |     647,200 |      -5,900
New Jersey....................|   4,034,800 |   4,019,600 |     -15,200
                              |             |             |            
New York......................|   8,715,200 |   8,661,200 |     -54,000
North Carolina................|   4,102,400 |   4,067,500 |     -34,900
Ohio..........................|   5,363,100 |   5,329,700 |     -33,400
Oregon........................|   1,704,900 |   1,695,200 |      -9,700
Pennsylvania..................|   5,759,200 |   5,732,100 |     -27,100
Rhode Island..................|     471,800 |     468,800 |      -3,000
South Carolina................|   1,918,900 |   1,903,900 |     -15,000
Tennessee.....................|   2,760,600 |   2,742,700 |     -17,900
Utah..........................|   1,246,300 |   1,237,700 |      -8,600
Vermont.......................|     305,100 |     302,700 |      -2,400
                              |             |             |            
Virginia......................|   3,764,800 |   3,743,900 |     -20,900
Washington....................|   2,941,500 |   2,920,200 |     -21,300
Wisconsin.....................|   2,841,500 |   2,819,500 |     -22,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
   p = preliminary.





                               - 9 -
 
 
Table E.  States with statistically significant employment changes from
December 2007 to December 2008, seasonally adjusted

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              |   December  |   December  | Over-the-year
            State             |     2007    |    2008(p)  |   change(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................|   2,018,000 |   1,976,300 |     -41,700
Arizona.......................|   2,659,300 |   2,543,900 |    -115,400
Arkansas......................|   1,206,400 |   1,187,700 |     -18,700
California....................|  15,171,000 |  14,913,600 |    -257,400
Connecticut...................|   1,706,500 |   1,677,200 |     -29,300
Florida.......................|   8,039,400 |   7,784,200 |    -255,200
Georgia.......................|   4,159,700 |   4,041,300 |    -118,400
Hawaii........................|     626,000 |     612,600 |     -13,400
Idaho.........................|     657,300 |     628,800 |     -28,500
Illinois......................|   5,986,500 |   5,885,800 |    -100,700
                              |             |             |            
Indiana.......................|   2,994,900 |   2,883,000 |    -111,900
Kentucky......................|   1,880,000 |   1,843,200 |     -36,800
Maine.........................|     619,800 |     608,100 |     -11,700
Michigan......................|   4,227,600 |   4,054,600 |    -173,000
Minnesota.....................|   2,776,300 |   2,720,400 |     -55,900
Mississippi...................|   1,154,600 |   1,128,400 |     -26,200
Nevada........................|   1,293,300 |   1,261,100 |     -32,200
New York......................|   8,781,100 |   8,661,200 |    -119,900
North Carolina................|   4,187,700 |   4,067,500 |    -120,200
Ohio..........................|   5,418,700 |   5,329,700 |     -89,000
                              |             |             |            
Oregon........................|   1,740,600 |   1,695,200 |     -45,400
Pennsylvania..................|   5,808,300 |   5,732,100 |     -76,200
Rhode Island..................|     490,800 |     468,800 |     -22,000
South Carolina................|   1,958,100 |   1,903,900 |     -54,200
Tennessee.....................|   2,806,800 |   2,742,700 |     -64,100
Texas.........................|  10,475,100 |  10,628,800 |     153,700
Utah..........................|   1,264,800 |   1,237,700 |     -27,100
Vermont.......................|     308,500 |     302,700 |      -5,800
Washington....................|   2,958,300 |   2,920,200 |     -38,100
Wisconsin.....................|   2,882,100 |   2,819,500 |     -62,600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
   p = preliminary.






                                   - 10 -



Technical Note

   This release presents labor force and unemployment data for census
regions and divisions, states, and selected substate areas from the
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program (tables 1 to 4).  Also
presented are nonfarm payroll employment estimates by state and major
industry sector from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program
(tables 5 and 6).  The LAUS and CES programs are both federal-state
cooperative endeavors.

Labor force and unemployment--from the LAUS program

   Definitions.  The labor force and unemployment data are based on the
same concepts and definitions as those used for the official national
estimates obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a sample
survey of households that is conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statis-
tics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau.  The LAUS program measures employ-
ment and unemployment on a place-of-residence basis.  The universe for
each is the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and
over.  Employed persons are those who did any work at all for pay or
profit in the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month)
or worked 15 hours or more without pay in a family business or farm,
plus those not working who had a job from which they were temporarily
absent, whether or not paid, for such reasons as labor-management dis-
pute, illness, or vacation.  Unemployed persons are those who were not
employed during the reference week (based on the definition above), had
actively looked for a job sometime in the 4-week period ending with the
reference week, and were currently available for work; persons on layoff
expecting recall need not be looking for work to be counted as unemployed.
The labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed persons.  The unem-
ployment rate is the number of unemployed as a percent of the labor force.

   Method of estimation.  Estimates for 48 of the 50 states, the District
of Columbia, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan division, New
York City, and the balances of California and New York State are produced
using estimating equations based on regression techniques.  This method,
which underwent substantial enhancement at the beginning of 2005,utilizes
data from several sources, including the CPS, the CES, and state unemploy-
ment insurance (UI) programs.  Estimates for the state of California are
derived by summing the estimates for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale
metropolitan division and the balance of California.  Similarly, estimates
for New York State are derived by summing the estimates for New York City
and the balance of New York State.  Estimates for all nine census divi-
sions and the five additional substate areas contained in this release (the
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor and Detroit-Warren-Livonia metropolitan areas and
the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, and Seattle-
Bellevue-Everett metropolitan divisions) and their respective balances of
state are based on a similar regression approach that does not incorporate
CES or UI data.  Estimates for census regions are obtained by summing the
model-based estimates for the component divisions and then calculating the
unemployment rate.  Each month, census division estimates are controlled
to national totals; state estimates are then controlled to their respective
division totals.  Substate and balance-of-state estimates for the five areas
noted above are controlled to their respective state totals.  Estimates for
Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to the CPS.
A detailed description of the estimation procedures is available from BLS
upon request.

   Annual revisions.  Labor force and unemployment data for prior years
reflect adjustments made at the end of each year.  The adjusted estimates
reflect updated population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, any revisions
in the other data sources, and model reestimation.  In most years, histori-



                                   - 11 -



cal data for the most recent five years (both seasonally adjusted and not
seasonally adjusted) are revised near the beginning of each calendar year,
prior to or coincident with the release of January estimates.

   Seasonal adjustment.  Seasonal adjustment of modeled estimates of em-
ployment and unemployment levels is performed within the modeling procedure.
Series are decomposed into trend, seasonal, and irregular components and sur-
vey error.  This directly yields seasonally adjusted estimates for employment
and unemployment levels with reliability measures. Labor force levels and un-
employment rates are calculated from these two estimates.

   Area definitions.  The substate area data published in this release reflect
the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and
Budget on November 20, 2007.  A detailed list of the geographic definitions is
available on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/lau/lausmsa.htm.

Employment--from the CES program

   Definitions.  Employment data refer to persons on establishment payrolls who
receive pay for any part of the pay period that includes the 12th of the month.
Persons are counted at their place of work rather than at their place of resi-
dence; those appearing on more than one payroll are counted on each payroll.  In-
dustries are classified on the basis of their principal activity in accordance
with the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System.

   Method of estimation.  The employment data are estimated using a "link rela-
tive" technique in which a ratio (link relative) of current-month employment to
that of the previous month is computed from a sample of establishments reporting
for both months.  The estimates of employment for the current month are obtained
by multiplying the estimates for the previous month by these ratios.  Small-do-
main models are used as the official estimators for the approximately 39 percent
of CES published series which have insufficient sample for direct sample-based
estimates.

   Annual revisions.  Employment estimates are adjusted annually to a complete
count of jobs, called benchmarks, derived principally from tax reports that are
submitted by employers who are covered under state unemployment insurance (UI)
laws.  The benchmark information is used to adjust the monthly estimates between
the new benchmark and the preceding one and also to establish the level of em-
ployment for the new benchmark month.  Thus, the benchmarking process establishes
the level of employment, and the sample is used to measure the month-to-month
changes in the level for the subsequent months.

   Seasonal adjustment.  Payroll employment data are seasonally adjusted at the
statewide supersector level.  In some states, the seasonally adjusted payroll em-
ployment total is computed by aggregating the independently adjusted super-sector
series.  In other states, the seasonally adjusted payroll employment total is in-
dependently adjusted.  Revisions of historical data for the most recent 5 years
are made once a year, coincident with annual benchmark adjustments.

   Caution on aggregating state data.  State estimation procedures are designed
to produce accurate data for each individual state.  BLS independently develops
a national employment series; state estimates are not forced to sum to national
totals.  Because each state series is subject to larger sampling and nonsampling
errors than the national series, summing them cumulates individual state level
errors and can cause significant distortions at an aggregate level.  Due to these
statistical limitations, BLS does not compile a "sum-of-states" employment series,
and cautions users that such a series is subject to a relatively large and vola-
tile error structure.



                                   - 12 -



Reliability of the estimates

   The estimates presented in this release are based on sample surveys, adminis-
trative data, and modeling and, thus, are subject to sampling and other types of
errors.  Sampling error is a measure of sampling variability--that is, variation
that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the entire population is sur-
veyed.  Survey data also are subject to nonsampling errors, such as those which
can be introduced into the data collection and processing operations.  Estimates
not directly derived from sample surveys are subject to additional errors resulting
from the specific estimation processes used.  The sums of individual items may not
always equal the totals shown in the same tables because of rounding.  Unemployment
rates are computed from unrounded data and thus may differ slightly from rates com-
puted using the rounded data displayed in the tables.

   Use of error measures.  In 2005, the LAUS program introduced several improve-
ments to its methodology.  Among these was the development of model-based error
measures for the monthly estimates and the estimates of over-the-month changes.
The introductory section of this release preserves the long-time practice of high-
lighting the direction of the movements in regional and state unemployment rates 
and state nonfarm payroll employment regardless of their statistical significance.
The remainder of the analysis in the release takes statistical significance into
consideration.

   Labor force and unemployment estimates.  Model-based error measures for both sea-
sonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted data and for over-the-month changes are
available online at http://www.bls.gov/lau/lastderr.htm.  BLS uses a 90-percent con-
fidence level in determining whether changes in LAUS unemployment rates are statisti-
cally significant.  The average magnitude of the current year over-the-month change in 
a state unemployment rate that is required in order to be statistically significant at 
the 90-percent confidence level is between 0.3 and 0.4 percentage point.  More details 
can be found on the Web site.  Measures of nonsampling error are not available, but ad-
ditional information on the subject is provided in Employment and Earnings Online at 
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm.

   Employment estimates.  Measures of sampling error for state CES data at the total
nonfarm and supersector level and for metropolitan area CES data at the total nonfarm
level are available online at http://www.bls.gov/sae/790stderr.htm.  BLS uses a 90-
percent confidence level in determining whether changes in CES employment levels are 
statistically significant.  Information on recent benchmark revisions for states is 
available on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/sae/.

Additional information

   More complete information on the technical procedures used to develop these esti-
mates and additional data appear in Employment and Earnings Online.

  Estimates of labor force and unemployment from the LAUS program, as well as nonfarm
employment from the CES program, for over 300 metropolitan areas and metropolitan New
England City and Town Areas (NECTAs) are available in the news release, Metropolitan
Area Employment and Unemployment.  Estimates of labor force, employment, and unemploy-
ment for all states, metropolitan areas, labor market areas, counties, cities with a
population of 25,000 or more, and other areas used in the administration of various
federal economic assistance programs are available on the Internet at http://www.bls.
gov/lau/.  Employment data from the CES program are available on the Internet at 
http://www.bls.gov/sae/.

   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individ-
uals upon request.  Voice phone:  (202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone:
1-800-877-8339.






 LABOR FORCE DATA                                                                                                LABOR FORCE DATA
 
 
 Table 1.  Civilian labor force and unemployment by census region and division, seasonally adjusted (1)
 
 (Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                         Unemployed                              
                                                                                                                                 
                              Civilian labor force                                                                               
  Census region and                                                                                                              
       division                                                          Number                      Percent of labor force      
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
                        Dec.     Oct.     Nov.     Dec.     Dec.     Oct.     Nov.     Dec.     Dec.     Oct.     Nov.     Dec.  
                        2007     2008     2008     2008     2007     2008     2008     2008     2007     2008     2008     2008  
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                 
 Northeast........... 27,992.1 28,364.2 28,262.5 28,322.0  1,274.8  1,648.8  1,732.7  1,968.7    4.6      5.8      6.1      7.0  
                                                                                                                                 
   New England.......  7,659.8  7,712.4  7,704.5  7,690.7    339.7    453.1    476.9    531.5    4.4      5.9      6.2      6.9  
   Middle Atlantic... 20,332.4 20,651.8 20,558.0 20,631.3    935.1  1,195.7  1,255.8  1,437.1    4.6      5.8      6.1      7.0  
                                                                                                                                 
 South............... 54,760.1 55,371.2 55,260.7 55,273.7  2,487.6  3,404.1  3,553.7  3,880.5    4.5      6.1      6.4      7.0  
                                                                                                                                 
   South Atlantic.... 29,425.3 29,759.3 29,670.9 29,672.9  1,308.2  1,913.0  2,029.5  2,232.8    4.4      6.4      6.8      7.5  
   East South Central  8,633.5  8,579.7  8,536.7  8,552.8    439.1    565.8    575.1    646.5    5.1      6.6      6.7      7.6  
   West South Central 16,701.3 17,032.3 17,053.1 17,047.9    740.3    925.3    949.1  1,001.2    4.4      5.4      5.6      5.9  
                                                                                                                                 
 Midwest............. 34,933.7 34,867.8 34,835.3 34,797.2  1,845.5  2,319.1  2,402.1  2,603.1    5.3      6.7      6.9      7.5  
                                                                                                                                 
   East North Central 24,012.1 23,899.9 23,866.3 23,840.8  1,362.6  1,740.4  1,798.3  1,955.2    5.7      7.3      7.5      8.2  
   West North Central 10,921.5 10,967.9 10,969.0 10,956.4    483.0    578.7    603.8    647.9    4.4      5.3      5.5      5.9  
                                                                                                                                 
 West................ 35,804.7 36,303.1 36,303.8 36,425.1  1,830.7  2,565.9  2,649.8  2,928.3    5.1      7.1      7.3      8.0  
                                                                                                                                 
   Mountain.......... 11,059.6 11,222.7 11,215.2 11,247.3    446.3    618.4    642.7    707.8    4.0      5.5      5.7      6.3  
   Pacific........... 24,745.1 25,080.4 25,088.6 25,177.8  1,384.4  1,947.5  2,007.1  2,220.5    5.6      7.8      8.0      8.8  

   1 Census region estimates are derived by summing the Census division model-based estimates.
   NOTE:  Data refer to place of residence.  The States (including the District of Columbia) that compose the various census
 divisions are: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic:  New
 Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; South Atlantic:  Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina,
 South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South Central:  Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South
 Central:  Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas; East North Central:  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West
 North Central:  Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain:  Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
 Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific:  Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. Estimates for
 the current year are subject to revision early in the following calendar year.






Table 2.  Civilian labor force and unemployment by census region and division, not seasonally adjusted (1)

(Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                        Unemployed                              
                                                                                                                                
                             Civilian labor force                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
 Census region and                                                      Number                      Percent of labor force      
      division                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                          November          December          November          December          November          December    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                       2007     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Northeast........... 27,998.5 28,234.0 27,933.3 28,227.8  1,168.0  1,659.0  1,232.1  1,873.1    4.2      5.9      4.4      6.6  
                                                                                                                                
  New England.......  7,664.0  7,694.5  7,633.7  7,654.5    312.5    452.6    325.3    502.5    4.1      5.9      4.3      6.6  
  Middle Atlantic... 20,334.5 20,539.5 20,299.5 20,573.3    855.5  1,206.3    906.8  1,370.6    4.2      5.9      4.5      6.7  
                                                                                                                                
South............... 54,776.8 55,250.3 54,660.1 55,100.1  2,318.1  3,471.0  2,440.5  3,735.1    4.2      6.3      4.5      6.8  
                                                                                                                                
  South Atlantic.... 29,399.2 29,620.4 29,336.4 29,540.8  1,225.4  1,996.3  1,287.8  2,160.0    4.2      6.7      4.4      7.3  
  East South Central  8,653.0  8,559.3  8,647.2  8,557.9    401.8    556.3    432.6    624.8    4.6      6.5      5.0      7.3  
  West South Central 16,724.6 17,070.5 16,676.5 17,001.4    691.0    918.4    720.1    950.4    4.1      5.4      4.3      5.6  
                                                                                                                                
Midwest............. 34,964.9 34,821.7 34,837.3 34,653.4  1,683.9  2,279.4  1,841.2  2,526.5    4.8      6.5      5.3      7.3  
                                                                                                                                
  East North Central 24,053.0 23,868.4 23,965.2 23,757.1  1,252.9  1,709.6  1,357.0  1,895.0    5.2      7.2      5.7      8.0  
  West North Central 10,911.9 10,953.3 10,872.1 10,896.3    431.0    569.8    484.1    631.6    3.9      5.2      4.5      5.8  
                                                                                                                                
West................ 35,806.4 36,317.6 35,782.8 36,367.2  1,725.2  2,605.6  1,834.3  2,864.0    4.8      7.2      5.1      7.9  
                                                                                                                                
  Mountain.......... 11,060.2 11,222.6 11,044.5 11,225.1    410.5    625.4    443.6    688.2    3.7      5.6      4.0      6.1  
  Pacific........... 24,746.2 25,094.9 24,738.3 25,142.1  1,314.7  1,980.2  1,390.7  2,175.8    5.3      7.9      5.6      8.7  

   1 Census region estimates are derived by summing the Census division model-based estimates.
   NOTE:  Data refer to place of residence.  The composition of the regions and divisions is described in table 1. Estimates for
the current year are subject to revision early in the following calendar year.






LABOR FORCE DATA                                                                                               LABOR FORCE DATA
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED                                                                                         SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

Table 3.  Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and selected area, seasonally adjusted

(Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                           Unemployed                          
                                                                                                                               
                                  Civilian labor force                                                                         
                                                                                                                               
    State and area                                                               Number                  Percent of labor force
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                           Dec.      Oct.      Nov.      Dec.      Dec.      Oct.      Nov.      Dec.    Dec.  Oct.  Nov.  Dec.
                           2007      2008      2008     2008p      2007      2008      2008     2008p    2007  2008  2008 2008p
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
Alabama................   2,194.0   2,172.0   2,162.2   2,153.7     82.2     120.5     130.6     144.1    3.7   5.5   6.0   6.7
Alaska.................     353.6     360.5     360.3     362.0     22.3      26.1      25.9      27.3    6.3   7.2   7.2   7.5
Arizona................   3,060.2   3,149.7   3,145.1   3,165.7    127.8     191.6     199.0     219.8    4.2   6.1   6.3   6.9
Arkansas...............   1,372.3   1,385.4   1,378.7   1,370.3     74.9      74.6      78.5      84.4    5.5   5.4   5.7   6.2
California.............  18,319.6  18,581.8  18,583.5  18,648.5  1,079.4   1,530.3   1,566.5   1,731.8    5.9   8.2   8.4   9.3
  Los Angeles-Long                                                                                                             
    Beach-Glendale (1)    4,963.1   4,963.9   4,978.8   4,960.1    266.5     413.5     441.0     491.5    5.4   8.3   8.9   9.9
Colorado...............   2,738.7   2,753.3   2,748.4   2,750.1    109.0     155.9     159.8     167.6    4.0   5.7   5.8   6.1
Connecticut............   1,882.2   1,910.7   1,903.5   1,894.7     90.7     125.0     126.4     134.2    4.8   6.5   6.6   7.1
Delaware...............     445.3     447.7     445.3     445.3     15.8      23.9      25.1      27.7    3.5   5.3   5.6   6.2
District of Columbia...     328.3     329.6     328.5     329.3     18.7      24.2      26.2      29.0    5.7   7.3   8.0   8.8
Florida................   9,240.7   9,365.6   9,318.2   9,313.0    415.5     658.7     687.9     751.8    4.5   7.0   7.4   8.1
  Miami-Miami Beach-                                                                                                           
    Kendall (1) .......   1,198.1   1,208.8   1,199.0   1,202.4     45.1      70.8      69.9      84.1    3.8   5.9   5.8   7.0
                                                                                                                               
Georgia................   4,855.9   4,894.4   4,886.7   4,878.4    220.5     338.6     360.6     393.2    4.5   6.9   7.4   8.1
Hawaii.................     648.5     665.3     660.7     661.7     19.9      30.4      33.0      36.4    3.1   4.6   5.0   5.5
Idaho..................     757.0     759.6     760.8     759.7     20.2      40.2      43.4      49.0    2.7   5.3   5.7   6.4
Illinois...............   6,742.5   6,642.4   6,645.1   6,640.4    360.1     481.9     485.1     505.3    5.3   7.3   7.3   7.6
  Chicago-Naperville-                                                                                                          
    Joliet (1).........   4,136.8   4,070.9   4,074.0   4,077.5    202.2     281.0     272.8     295.8    4.9   6.9   6.7   7.3
Indiana................   3,207.6   3,246.5   3,238.4   3,230.8    143.3     207.8     230.6     266.5    4.5   6.4   7.1   8.2
Iowa...................   1,666.7   1,682.6   1,679.0   1,671.9     63.9      73.9      71.7      77.1    3.8   4.4   4.3   4.6
Kansas.................   1,484.2   1,501.7   1,503.8   1,506.6     61.7      73.4      73.5      78.6    4.2   4.9   4.9   5.2
Kentucky...............   2,043.7   2,045.1   2,038.3   2,049.4    107.7     138.9     142.2     159.8    5.3   6.8   7.0   7.8
Louisiana..............   2,017.0   2,062.0   2,050.1   2,061.1     79.9     114.5     108.6     121.9    4.0   5.6   5.3   5.9
Maine..................     706.5     710.9     711.9     710.7     34.6      40.3      44.9      50.0    4.9   5.7   6.3   7.0
                                                                                                                               
Maryland...............   2,991.5   3,000.8   2,994.4   2,995.6    106.9     148.4     157.4     174.7    3.6   4.9   5.3   5.8
Massachusetts..........   3,402.8   3,423.0   3,421.2   3,418.1    146.1     186.9     202.8     235.4    4.3   5.5   5.9   6.9
Michigan...............   4,988.8   4,930.3   4,915.3   4,894.3    371.6     456.8     472.2     519.3    7.4   9.3   9.6  10.6
  Detroit-Warren-                                                                                                              
    Livonia (2)........   2,126.5   2,118.4   2,098.9   2,090.0    172.7     191.3     209.0     232.5    8.1   9.0  10.0  11.1
Minnesota..............   2,933.8   2,942.1   2,945.4   2,951.8    137.4     174.5     188.3     202.8    4.7   5.9   6.4   6.9
Mississippi............   1,325.6   1,316.8   1,311.0   1,310.9     83.1      94.5      94.4     104.4    6.3   7.2   7.2   8.0
Missouri...............   3,036.9   3,028.2   3,018.6   3,012.3    159.7     196.7     204.1     219.7    5.3   6.5   6.8   7.3
Montana................     503.0     507.0     505.7     505.7     16.1      24.4      25.0      27.2    3.2   4.8   4.9   5.4
Nebraska...............     985.3     999.2     999.3     997.6     27.4      36.5      36.8      40.0    2.8   3.7   3.7   4.0
Nevada.................   1,359.7   1,416.9   1,417.9   1,426.8     70.7     108.6     114.2     130.5    5.2   7.7   8.1   9.1
New Hampshire..........     740.6     744.4     742.4     739.5     25.3      30.5      31.8      33.8    3.4   4.1   4.3   4.6
                                                                                                                               
New Jersey.............   4,463.8   4,552.7   4,519.6   4,550.6    188.0     273.9     275.7     324.9    4.2   6.0   6.1   7.1
New Mexico.............     945.2     961.6     960.9     966.1     30.6      41.7      41.7      47.8    3.2   4.3   4.3   4.9
New York...............   9,542.2   9,660.2   9,619.1   9,635.3    442.2     548.3     581.8     671.5    4.6   5.7   6.0   7.0
  New York City .......   3,868.5   3,918.5   3,911.1   3,923.1    198.2     222.0     245.9     291.8    5.1   5.7   6.3   7.4
North Carolina.........   4,531.9   4,588.5   4,564.8   4,563.1    211.7     323.5     358.3     396.8    4.7   7.1   7.8   8.7
North Dakota...........     367.8     372.1     371.5     371.5     11.8      12.7      12.2      12.8    3.2   3.4   3.3   3.5
Ohio...................   5,988.4   5,989.2   5,969.5   5,971.6    347.3     435.0     435.2     464.8    5.8   7.3   7.3   7.8
  Cleveland-Elyria-                                                                                                            
    Mentor (2) ........   1,094.3   1,080.7   1,073.8   1,073.5     66.0      75.8      78.7      79.0    6.0   7.0   7.3   7.4
Oklahoma...............   1,732.4   1,769.8   1,771.0   1,768.9     71.5      76.8      82.9      87.0    4.1   4.3   4.7   4.9
Oregon.................   1,937.5   1,970.9   1,976.1   1,990.9    105.0     142.6     158.4     178.9    5.4   7.2   8.0   9.0
Pennsylvania...........   6,290.1   6,447.0   6,419.4   6,442.2    278.6     372.3     395.4     433.7    4.4   5.8   6.2   6.7
Rhode Island...........     576.7     570.5     570.6     566.2     30.2      52.9      53.1      56.8    5.2   9.3   9.3  10.0
                                                                                                                               
South Carolina.........   2,150.2   2,169.8   2,170.3   2,184.6    133.4     171.4     181.6     207.2    6.2   7.9   8.4   9.5
South Dakota...........     443.1     447.0     446.1     445.9     12.7      14.5      15.1      17.2    2.9   3.2   3.4   3.9
Tennessee..............   3,055.0   3,045.9   3,028.4   3,042.3    151.3     211.8     211.4     241.2    5.0   7.0   7.0   7.9
Texas..................  11,557.6  11,815.2  11,851.0  11,853.8    488.0     656.7     676.0     711.8    4.2   5.6   5.7   6.0
Utah...................   1,384.2   1,384.0   1,383.3   1,383.0     39.6      48.6      51.4      60.1    2.9   3.5   3.7   4.3
Vermont................     352.9     356.3     356.9     356.9     13.6      18.6      20.2      22.7    3.9   5.2   5.7   6.4
Virginia...............   4,087.6   4,150.7   4,152.2   4,159.5    131.6     183.4     198.2     222.7    3.2   4.4   4.8   5.4
Washington.............   3,443.6   3,515.6   3,517.3   3,534.2    157.3     221.0     222.5     251.7    4.6   6.3   6.3   7.1
  Seattle-Bellevue-                                                                                                            
    Everett (1) .......   1,454.0   1,479.3   1,472.6   1,477.5     51.7      79.1      78.9      91.4    3.6   5.3   5.4   6.2
West Virginia..........     810.3     810.1     805.2     800.0     37.3      37.4      36.7      39.0    4.6   4.6   4.6   4.9
Wisconsin..............   3,090.5   3,089.0   3,093.9   3,094.3    149.8     159.0     174.4     191.4    4.8   5.1   5.6   6.2
Wyoming................     290.1     293.8     293.5     293.9      8.9       9.7       9.3      10.0    3.1   3.3   3.2   3.4
                                                                                                                               
Puerto Rico............   1,364.9   1,364.0   1,374.2   1,377.1    153.3     164.1     171.4     185.9   11.2  12.0  12.5  13.5

   p = preliminary.
   1 Metropolitan division.
   2 Metropolitan statistical area.
   NOTE:  Data refer to place of residence.  Data for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to the
Current Population Survey.  Area definitions are based on Office of Management and Budget Bulletin No. 08-01, dated November 20,
2007, and are available at http://www.bls.gov/lau/lausmsa.htm.  Estimates for the latest month are subject to revision the
following month.






LABOR FORCE DATA                                                                                                   LABOR FORCE DATA
NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED                                                                                     NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED

Table 4.  Civilian labor force and unemployment by state and selected area, not seasonally adjusted

(Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                             Unemployed                            
                                                                                                                                   
                                  Civilian labor force                                                                             
                                                                                                                                   
    State and area                                                               Number                    Percent of labor force  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                              November            December            November            December         November      December  
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                           2007      2008      2007     2008p      2007      2008      2007     2008p    2007   2008   2007   2008p
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                   
Alabama................   2,206.6   2,171.7   2,204.2   2,158.6     77.3     127.1      83.5     138.9    3.5    5.9    3.8    6.4 
Alaska.................     351.8     357.3     351.8     358.8     21.2      25.0      23.6      27.7    6.0    7.0    6.7    7.7 
Arizona................   3,070.2   3,150.4   3,067.4   3,163.4    122.6     193.8     131.9     210.8    4.0    6.2    4.3    6.7 
Arkansas...............   1,368.2   1,372.3   1,364.8   1,358.1     68.3      71.4      76.8      81.9    5.0    5.2    5.6    6.0 
California.............  18,342.2  18,579.1  18,352.6  18,612.8  1,021.2   1,546.5   1,080.3   1,688.0    5.6    8.3    5.9    9.1 
  Los Angeles-Long                                                                                                                 
    Beach-Glendale (1)    4,994.5   4,994.2   4,987.8   4,965.0    252.5     433.1     260.3     473.5    5.1    8.7    5.2    9.5 
Colorado...............   2,744.9   2,749.1   2,740.7   2,743.1    107.6     155.8     116.9     163.1    3.9    5.7    4.3    5.9 
Connecticut............   1,882.1   1,901.3   1,871.8   1,882.8     86.1     121.9      84.4     123.9    4.6    6.4    4.5    6.6 
Delaware...............     446.0     445.8     445.2     445.4     13.6      23.1      15.2      26.3    3.0    5.2    3.4    5.9 
District of Columbia...     327.1     328.3     325.8     327.4     18.6      27.4      18.9      29.1    5.7    8.4    5.8    8.9 
Florida................   9,224.1   9,310.6   9,215.0   9,280.9    398.0     685.2     412.6     723.6    4.3    7.4    4.5    7.8 
  Miami-Miami Beach-                                                                                                               
    Kendall (1) .......   1,201.2   1,201.2   1,199.3   1,205.6     44.0      67.0      47.1      83.9    3.7    5.6    3.9    7.0 
                                                                                                                                   
Georgia................   4,857.8   4,889.8   4,871.3   4,887.9    205.5     349.8     223.3     381.6    4.2    7.2    4.6    7.8 
Hawaii.................     650.0     660.4     649.1     659.8     19.1      33.6      18.0      33.6    2.9    5.1    2.8    5.1 
Idaho..................     757.4     759.2     755.5     756.8     19.3      42.0      22.3      48.9    2.6    5.5    2.9    6.5 
Illinois...............   6,748.4   6,642.3   6,731.0   6,621.1    324.6     458.5     355.6     488.8    4.8    6.9    5.3    7.4 
  Chicago-Naperville-                                                                                                              
    Joliet (1).........   4,142.5   4,068.9   4,131.4   4,062.4    191.9     257.5     203.5     282.6    4.6    6.3    4.9    7.0 
Indiana................   3,213.1   3,237.0   3,190.0   3,209.7    134.2     222.5     142.2     261.3    4.2    6.9    4.5    8.1 
Iowa...................   1,669.5   1,681.4   1,666.3   1,668.5     58.6      67.4      70.5      80.3    3.5    4.0    4.2    4.8 
Kansas.................   1,484.3   1,506.2   1,480.1   1,500.4     56.7      72.3      59.9      73.1    3.8    4.8    4.0    4.9 
Kentucky...............   2,049.0   2,041.2   2,048.3   2,047.0     96.9     134.4     110.5     154.0    4.7    6.6    5.4    7.5 
Louisiana..............   2,020.0   2,054.7   2,005.1   2,045.8     69.7     102.3      76.2     113.2    3.4    5.0    3.8    5.5 
Maine..................     702.9     707.7     701.4     705.0     32.7      44.1      35.1      49.3    4.7    6.2    5.0    7.0 
                                                                                                                                   
Maryland...............   2,988.2   2,986.5   2,973.9   2,977.5    101.2     153.4     103.1     165.3    3.4    5.1    3.5    5.6 
Massachusetts..........   3,406.9   3,417.5   3,393.5   3,407.9    131.0     188.4     138.7     222.0    3.8    5.5    4.1    6.5 
Michigan...............   5,005.0   4,920.8   4,988.5   4,890.5    341.9     448.9     370.0     510.4    6.8    9.1    7.4   10.4 
  Detroit-Warren-                                                                                                                  
    Livonia (2)........   2,132.5   2,100.2   2,127.4   2,085.7    161.2     198.8     170.8     221.0    7.6    9.5    8.0   10.6 
Minnesota..............   2,933.5   2,945.4   2,924.2   2,937.7    118.1     176.7     143.6     200.7    4.0    6.0    4.9    6.8 
Mississippi............   1,326.3   1,309.3   1,333.3   1,312.4     76.0      86.8      84.2      99.5    5.7    6.6    6.3    7.6 
Missouri...............   3,030.3   3,010.5   3,022.8   2,993.1    147.7     194.2     158.5     209.9    4.9    6.5    5.2    7.0 
Montana................     501.2     502.8     498.5     500.0     16.1      24.7      18.1      27.4    3.2    4.9    3.6    5.5 
Nebraska...............     989.1     998.7     978.6     990.4     29.1      34.5      26.4      37.8    2.9    3.5    2.7    3.8 
Nevada.................   1,358.6   1,417.0   1,361.4   1,421.6     69.3     112.0      76.0     128.1    5.1    7.9    5.6    9.0 
New Hampshire..........     739.7     740.4     736.7     735.7     23.3      30.1      24.2      31.5    3.1    4.1    3.3    4.3 
                                                                                                                                   
New Jersey.............   4,472.2   4,512.9   4,466.3   4,541.2    175.1     261.0     183.5     308.1    3.9    5.8    4.1    6.8 
New Mexico.............     951.5     964.7     946.5     966.2     30.2      39.6      28.9      43.5    3.2    4.1    3.1    4.5 
New York...............   9,544.1   9,597.6   9,536.7   9,603.7    422.0     565.7     449.7     652.3    4.4    5.9    4.7    6.8 
  New York City .......   3,873.5   3,909.6   3,872.0   3,914.8    193.1     242.7     199.8     282.3    5.0    6.2    5.2    7.2 
North Carolina.........   4,538.0   4,561.2   4,508.2   4,532.5    207.7     355.8     211.9     383.5    4.6    7.8    4.7    8.5 
North Dakota...........     362.1     366.0     361.6     364.9      9.3      10.3      12.0      12.4    2.6    2.8    3.3    3.4 
Ohio...................   5,997.7   5,977.8   5,975.1   5,954.2    318.4     416.5     347.2     454.8    5.3    7.0    5.8    7.6 
  Cleveland-Elyria-                                                                                                                
    Mentor (2) ........   1,094.3   1,070.7   1,081.2   1,058.7     60.4      73.1      65.1      74.7    5.5    6.8    6.0    7.1 
Oklahoma...............   1,746.1   1,778.3   1,731.6   1,764.2     71.5      80.0      73.7      84.7    4.1    4.5    4.3    4.8 
Oregon.................   1,947.2   1,980.6   1,933.4   1,980.0     98.2     154.6     104.9     174.8    5.0    7.8    5.4    8.8 
Pennsylvania...........   6,318.3   6,429.0   6,296.5   6,428.4    258.4     379.6     273.7     410.3    4.1    5.9    4.3    6.4 
Rhode Island...........     580.4     571.6     578.1     566.8     27.1      48.8      29.9      54.6    4.7    8.5    5.2    9.6 
                                                                                                                                   
South Carolina.........   2,136.3   2,157.5   2,132.4   2,164.1    124.3     177.7     136.2     202.3    5.8    8.2    6.4    9.3 
South Dakota...........     443.2     445.1     438.5     441.2     11.7      14.3      13.4      17.4    2.6    3.2    3.1    3.9 
Tennessee..............   3,071.0   3,037.1   3,061.5   3,039.9    151.5     208.1     154.3     232.4    4.9    6.9    5.0    7.6 
Texas..................  11,590.2  11,865.3  11,575.1  11,833.3    481.5     664.7     493.4     670.6    4.2    5.6    4.3    5.7 
Utah...................   1,386.7   1,386.3   1,385.5   1,381.7     36.8      48.5      39.3      55.9    2.7    3.5    2.8    4.0 
Vermont................     351.9     355.9     352.3     356.3     12.3      19.4      13.0      21.2    3.5    5.4    3.7    6.0 
Virginia...............   4,072.4   4,137.0   4,059.2   4,131.2    122.9     190.8     130.8     213.4    3.0    4.6    3.2    5.2 
Washington.............   3,455.0   3,517.4   3,451.4   3,530.8    154.9     220.5     164.1     251.7    4.5    6.3    4.8    7.1 
  Seattle-Bellevue-                                                                                                                
    Everett (1) .......   1,455.5   1,469.1   1,458.7   1,478.1     53.9      81.1      54.5      89.7    3.7    5.5    3.7    6.1 
West Virginia..........     809.2     803.7     805.2     793.9     33.4      33.1      35.8      35.0    4.1    4.1    4.5    4.4 
Wisconsin..............   3,088.7   3,090.4   3,080.5   3,081.8    133.9     163.3     142.1     179.6    4.3    5.3    4.6    5.8 
Wyoming................     289.7     293.1     289.0     292.3      8.6       8.9      10.2      10.4    3.0    3.0    3.5    3.5 
                                                                                                                                   
Puerto Rico............   1,365.8   1,371.0   1,359.0   1,370.7    149.5     169.8     142.9     179.6   10.9   12.4   10.5   13.1 

   p = preliminary.
   1 Metropolitan division.
   2 Metropolitan statistical area.
   NOTE:  Data refer to place of residence.  Data for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to the Current
Population Survey.  Area definitions are based on Office of Management and Budget Bulletin No. 08-01, dated November 20, 2007, and
are available at http://www.bls.gov/lau/lausmsa.htm. Estimates for the latest month are subject to revision the following month.






     ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                   ESTABLISHMENT DATA
                                                                                                         
     SEASONALLY ADJUSTED                                                                                 SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
     
     Table 5. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by state and selected industry sector, seasonally adjusted

     (In thousands)
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                       Total (1)                       Construction                   Manufacturing         
                                                                                                                            
           State                                                                                                            
                           Dec.     Oct.     Nov.      Dec.    Dec.    Oct.    Nov.     Dec.   Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                           2007     2008     2008     2008p    2007    2008    2008    2008p   2007    2008    2008   2008p 
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
      Alabama...........  2,018.0  2,008.6  1,990.2  1,976.3   113.9   111.8   110.0   109.2   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
      Alaska............    317.4    318.8    321.7    320.2    17.3    17.1    17.0    17.2    13.8    13.0    13.8    13.1
      Arizona...........  2,659.3  2,591.2  2,560.6  2,543.9   210.8   180.1   172.4   167.2   180.2   177.1   176.5   175.9
      Arkansas..........  1,206.4  1,205.3  1,195.4  1,187.7    55.6    55.6    55.0    54.2   185.9   181.2   177.9   175.9
      California........ 15,171.0 15,065.3 14,991.8 14,913.6   856.0   799.4   780.0   763.4 1,452.1 1,425.9 1,414.9 1,405.4
                                                                                                                            
      Colorado..........  2,347.9  2,358.6  2,345.7  2,332.4   165.1   162.0   157.3   157.4   145.5   142.6   141.4   140.0
      Connecticut.......  1,706.5  1,698.5  1,688.7  1,677.2    68.5    67.2    65.0    63.1   190.7   188.3   186.2   185.7
      Delaware (3)......    439.4    436.9    432.5    431.8    28.2    25.9    25.5    25.0   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
      District of                                                                                                           
        Columbia (3)....    701.5    707.8    702.0    702.1    12.8    13.0    13.0    13.1   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
      Florida ..........  8,039.4  7,881.8  7,805.6  7,784.2   565.6   499.7   485.9   477.4   381.4   361.1   356.1   353.3
                                                                                                                            
      Georgia ..........  4,159.7  4,094.4  4,064.0  4,041.3   217.5   200.4   200.9   195.6   425.0   403.7   394.3   391.0
      Hawaii (3)........    626.0    620.3    620.3    612.6    40.0    38.0    37.5    36.7   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
      Idaho ............    657.3    646.1    638.7    628.8    51.5    46.3    46.0    43.7    65.3    61.3    59.0    57.6
      Illinois..........  5,986.5  5,959.4  5,921.8  5,885.8   267.7   254.4   247.1   233.7   673.0   668.2   660.0   654.8
      Indiana...........  2,994.9  2,963.4  2,918.3  2,883.0   151.0   149.7   140.9   132.1   546.5   520.4   510.5   500.6
                                                                                                                            
      Iowa..............  1,521.0  1,524.9  1,521.1  1,513.3    72.9    73.0    72.6    69.1   230.4   225.7   225.7   223.4
      Kansas............  1,384.6  1,391.9  1,392.2  1,385.5    65.6    65.1    64.8    63.5   186.5   185.4   185.1   181.8
      Kentucky..........  1,880.0  1,865.0  1,859.0  1,843.2    86.6    81.6    81.5    76.0   250.7   240.4   239.2   234.8
      Louisiana.........  1,940.8  1,945.9  1,945.3  1,949.0   135.4   139.1   140.3   140.6   159.3   154.6   153.9   153.6
      Maine.............    619.8    614.2    611.5    608.1    31.0    28.9    28.6    27.8    58.3    58.4    57.8    57.1
                                                                                                                            
      Maryland (3)......  2,625.4  2,634.9  2,620.1  2,610.3   190.4   185.7   182.6   179.8   131.2   126.2   125.5   125.5
      Massachusetts.....  3,288.0  3,283.2  3,260.9  3,244.1   137.1   131.7   127.9   125.4   293.6   289.3   286.0   285.0
      Michigan..........  4,227.6  4,152.2  4,113.6  4,054.6   161.4   148.2   142.4   136.3   601.2   565.7   564.8   552.4
      Minnesota.........  2,776.3  2,756.0  2,732.2  2,720.4   117.6   111.5   107.1   106.0   339.0   328.6   326.4   323.5
      Mississippi.......  1,154.6  1,138.9  1,136.2  1,128.4    58.4    57.8    58.1    57.8   167.7   160.5   159.9   157.3
                                                                                                                            
      Missouri .........  2,801.2  2,790.4  2,776.3  2,774.7   147.3   145.8   145.9   145.4   295.8   286.6   282.9   280.1
      Montana...........    447.0    446.6    444.5    443.2    32.4    30.3    29.5    29.7    20.3    20.4    20.3    20.2
      Nebraska (3)......    971.3    976.6    971.1    970.3    52.1    51.8    51.8    51.6   102.2   100.3    99.6    98.7
      Nevada............  1,293.3  1,279.3  1,269.3  1,261.1   128.8   115.2   112.0   109.3    50.5    49.7    49.3    48.7
      New Hampshire.....    654.7    656.3    653.1    647.2    28.5    27.5    27.8    26.1    77.8    76.6    75.8    74.7
                                                                                                                            
      New Jersey........  4,082.6  4,054.4  4,034.8  4,019.6   170.1   166.2   163.9   160.9   309.7   297.7   295.7   293.8
      New Mexico........    846.5    846.1    843.4    839.8    58.7    57.4    57.4    57.6    36.6    34.2    33.8    33.3
      New York..........  8,781.1  8,760.2  8,715.2  8,661.2   352.9   350.0   342.9   336.7   545.2   531.5   529.5   525.0
      North Carolina....  4,187.7  4,150.9  4,102.4  4,067.5   256.8   252.4   246.0   238.9   535.5   511.3   501.3   495.7
      North Dakota......    360.1    363.5    363.5    362.1    19.7    19.9    19.8    19.6    26.0    25.8    26.0    25.1
                                                                                                                            
      Ohio..............  5,418.7  5,394.4  5,363.1  5,329.7   224.6   216.5   214.4   205.5   767.5   752.9   741.0   725.2
      Oklahoma..........  1,574.6  1,587.9  1,589.8  1,589.8    72.9    75.5    75.8    75.8   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
      Oregon ...........  1,740.6  1,713.3  1,704.9  1,695.2   100.7    91.4    89.9    87.8   204.3   188.1   189.1   187.2
      Pennsylvania......  5,808.3  5,786.4  5,759.2  5,732.1   264.3   256.2   252.1   251.2   650.2   632.2   626.9   619.4
      Rhode Island......    490.8    475.8    471.8    468.8    21.7    20.3    19.9    19.2    49.6    47.0    46.5    45.8
                                                                                                                            
      South Carolina....  1,958.1  1,930.7  1,918.9  1,903.9   127.0   109.8   107.4   105.9   249.0   240.1   238.6   236.2
      South Dakota(3)...    408.4    413.3    412.5    411.8    23.3    23.9    23.2    22.2    42.2    43.0    42.9    42.8
      Tennessee(3)......  2,806.8  2,775.6  2,760.6  2,742.7   139.2   137.7   138.0   133.7   376.6   366.6   360.0   356.5
      Texas............. 10,475.1 10,665.8 10,654.5 10,628.8   654.7   668.1   667.2   663.9   933.8   925.0   923.4   915.4
      Utah..............  1,264.8  1,251.7  1,246.3  1,237.7   105.7    87.3    87.0    82.4   128.8   126.2   124.9   123.4
                                                                                                                            
      Vermont...........    308.5    307.1    305.1    302.7    16.7    15.8    14.9    14.5    35.7    35.0    34.8    34.1
      Virginia..........  3,774.7  3,777.2  3,764.8  3,743.9   240.4   229.8   228.2   226.0   274.8   273.6   270.9   269.4
      Washington........  2,958.3  2,931.0  2,941.5  2,920.2   207.6   194.4   190.3   187.4   296.3   271.7   292.2   288.6
      West Virginia.....    758.1    757.7    757.4    755.3    37.6    37.8    37.9    35.2    58.6    56.5    56.2    56.4
      Wisconsin.........  2,882.1  2,853.1  2,841.5  2,819.5   124.5   119.5   118.9   115.9   497.3   481.1   475.8   470.9
      Wyoming...........    292.5    299.6    299.6    299.0    27.2    27.2    27.6    26.8    10.3     9.9    10.0    10.1






                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                             Trade, transportation, and         Financial activities         Professional and business   
                                     utilities                                                        services           
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                            Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                            2007    2008    2008   2008p    2007    2008    2008   2008p    2007    2008    2008   2008p 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
      Alabama............   399.6   396.8   394.6   391.0   100.7   100.7    99.5    99.5   222.9   225.1   221.8   218.3
      Alaska.............    64.0    63.8    64.9    64.6    14.8    14.6    14.7    14.6    24.8    25.5    25.4    25.3
      Arizona............   523.4   505.1   496.8   493.5   179.5   176.2   173.1   172.4   400.0   387.7   377.1   372.1
      Arkansas...........   249.5   248.9   245.4   242.5    53.9    53.6    53.7    53.2   118.6   118.7   116.4   117.6
      California......... 2,908.3 2,869.7 2,841.3 2,815.9   887.1   863.1   860.3   857.0 2,276.4 2,268.1 2,260.5 2,252.0
                                                                                                                         
      Colorado...........   433.5   432.7   429.5   425.8   158.5   155.0   153.6   153.9   352.4   349.2   348.2   341.1
      Connecticut........   313.1   309.4   305.7   301.2   143.2   142.0   141.7   141.5   206.5   204.2   202.8   201.3
      Delaware (3).......    83.2    83.3    81.3    81.6    45.7    45.5    45.3    45.2    60.3    58.6    57.6    57.2
      District of                                                                                                        
        Columbia (3).....    27.3    28.0    27.6    27.4    29.0    28.4    28.5    28.3   156.3   157.3   156.3   154.8
      Florida ........... 1,616.6 1,573.2 1,558.2 1,535.5   541.1   527.5   522.4   522.7 1,334.5 1,286.1 1,270.9 1,280.8
                                                                                                                         
      Georgia ...........   893.9   881.6   877.6   870.2   227.8   227.1   226.3   226.0   563.7   549.2   536.5   535.0
      Hawaii (3).........   121.1   117.3   116.8   115.7   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)  
      Idaho .............   132.4   128.2   126.9   126.1    31.8    31.9    31.8    30.7    83.6    80.9    80.0    77.1
      Illinois........... 1,212.4 1,212.7 1,205.1 1,196.5   403.2   394.2   393.5   393.4   871.5   877.0   866.5   861.9
      Indiana............   590.1   584.3   573.0   566.8   138.2   139.0   138.9   135.9   289.8   286.2   277.5   276.5
                                                                                                                         
      Iowa...............   308.6   311.5   311.9   312.3   103.1   103.4   103.4   103.5   121.4   119.7   116.6   112.1
      Kansas.............   263.6   262.7   263.1   265.2    73.9    73.8    73.7    73.8   146.6   147.9   147.4   143.8
      Kentucky...........   389.9   390.6   388.9   385.9    94.4    92.8    92.6    92.1   182.6   177.5   177.2   173.0
      Louisiana..........   385.8   385.8   385.1   385.9    97.1    98.1    97.9    98.0   202.4   202.7   202.7   203.7
      Maine..............   127.3   124.0   122.9   121.8    33.0    32.4    32.2    31.9    54.2    55.7    55.4    54.8
                                                                                                                         
      Maryland (3).......   476.6   476.0   471.4   467.4   157.1   154.8   153.7   153.7   401.9   406.7   402.3   400.1
      Massachusetts......   571.4   565.3   560.7   557.3   224.5   221.6   218.4   217.5   484.2   489.3   485.5   478.0
      Michigan...........   783.7   770.8   763.3   753.8   209.4   204.1   203.4   201.3   569.3   563.4   552.6   537.3
      Minnesota..........   531.6   526.1   522.0   516.7   178.5   182.0   180.6   180.0   329.5   321.2   316.7   315.1
      Mississippi........   227.5   225.2   225.7   224.7   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)      96.0    95.8    95.4    91.4
                                                                                                                         
      Missouri ..........   549.2   549.4   542.7   543.1   166.9   163.9   162.5   162.2   339.0   338.3   337.4   337.4
      Montana............    93.3    93.1    92.2    91.6    21.9    21.6    22.0    21.9    41.4    40.4    39.5    39.9
      Nebraska (3).......   206.0   204.9   205.4   206.2    69.2    70.9    70.3    70.0   106.1   108.7   105.3   105.3
      Nevada.............   235.5   235.9   234.3   234.1    64.0    61.4    61.1    60.5   155.6   153.5   153.2   150.3
      New Hampshire......   142.6   143.3   141.5   141.1    38.6    39.0    38.7    38.7    66.6    68.3    68.6    65.8
                                                                                                                         
      New Jersey.........   879.9   870.1   866.3   861.8   270.2   263.5   262.9   262.7   612.8   616.0   610.5   605.5
      New Mexico.........   144.8   145.5   143.7   142.6    35.6    34.6    34.2    34.0   107.9   106.4   106.1   105.7
      New York........... 1,529.0 1,520.1 1,508.3 1,496.0   732.3   718.2   712.9   712.5 1,145.1 1,132.5 1,126.3 1,113.3
      North Carolina.....   783.6   773.6   761.9   753.6   210.9   210.7   208.7   209.0   510.3   496.8   481.9   470.5
      North Dakota.......    76.3    78.2    78.0    77.5    20.1    19.9    19.9    19.8    29.9    30.2    30.1    30.1
                                                                                                                         
      Ohio............... 1,050.4 1,043.1 1,035.3 1,034.2   299.7   298.8   299.1   299.0   666.2   664.5   655.7   647.9
      Oklahoma...........   288.8   289.6   287.9   288.0    84.4    84.1    84.0    84.1   182.4   183.6   183.6   184.1
      Oregon ............   342.0   336.6   332.1   330.2   105.5   102.5   103.3   103.2   198.3   194.6   192.5   192.1
      Pennsylvania....... 1,132.5 1,117.0 1,110.1 1,104.6   331.0   328.2   327.6   326.4   711.6   714.3   707.6   696.7
      Rhode Island.......    79.5    76.3    74.7    73.5    34.5    33.2    33.0    32.6    55.6    53.2    52.6    51.9
                                                                                                                         
      South Carolina.....   380.1   372.0   369.8   366.2   107.7   107.9   107.3   107.6   226.1   220.9   219.0   212.2
      South Dakota(3)....    82.4    82.2    82.9    83.1    30.9    31.4    31.3    31.2    28.1    27.7    27.4    27.4
      Tennessee(3).......   613.4   605.4   599.3   596.3   143.3   141.0   140.4   139.5   325.9   316.8   315.8   310.7
      Texas.............. 2,124.1 2,151.6 2,144.7 2,136.6   649.6   654.4   655.0   653.2 1,321.3 1,370.2 1,368.1 1,365.4
      Utah...............   250.1   250.3   247.6   244.2    74.4    72.9    72.0    73.3   162.7   162.8   161.5   161.8
                                                                                                                         
      Vermont............    59.3    58.7    58.8    57.6    13.2    13.0    13.0    12.9    22.2    22.4    22.3    22.2
      Virginia...........   670.0   663.2   657.3   654.9   192.7   190.5   189.8   189.8   649.5   653.1   652.0   644.4
      Washington.........   557.3   551.3   546.1   543.8   154.4   151.0   150.6   150.1   349.5   351.1   347.5   338.8
      West Virginia......   143.5   140.4   140.2   140.5    29.7    29.2    29.0    29.2    60.4    60.8    60.8    60.8
      Wisconsin..........   547.6   538.9   536.6   533.4   162.9   163.2   163.4   162.1   279.0   272.5   268.9   264.7
      Wyoming............    56.2    56.4    56.6    57.1    11.7    11.7    11.7    11.8    18.5    19.2    19.0    19.2






                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                           Education and health services      Leisure and hospitality                Government          
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                            Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec.    Dec.    Oct.    Nov.    Dec. 
                            2007    2008    2008   2008p    2007    2008    2008   2008p    2007    2008    2008   2008p 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
      Alabama............   210.8   209.9   207.4   207.2   174.4   174.7   172.2   169.4   378.0   381.7   381.1   381.4
      Alaska.............    36.7    37.4    37.5    37.3    31.8    30.9    31.6    31.5    81.5    82.6    82.8    82.5
      Arizona............   309.6   317.5   317.5   318.7   275.1   267.8   266.8   265.4   429.9   433.7   434.4   433.8
      Arkansas...........   155.7   159.1   158.1   159.7   100.1   100.5   100.5    98.1   211.7   211.5   212.0   211.2
      California......... 1,686.6 1,730.3 1,735.9 1,738.2 1,561.9 1,559.8 1,550.1 1,543.3 2,523.4 2,534.3 2,530.9 2,529.4
                                                                                                                         
      Colorado...........   243.8   252.4   253.1   252.7   273.6   276.5   274.5   272.3   378.8   387.5   388.3   388.7
      Connecticut........   290.8   293.8   295.1   295.2   138.0   138.1   138.1   136.2   251.2   252.1   251.6   251.4
      Delaware (3).......    59.1    60.6    60.9    61.3    40.3    40.4    40.0    39.5    61.5    62.0    61.8    61.5
      District of                                                                                                        
        Columbia (3).....    99.7   103.2   101.1   102.3    55.3    55.5    54.9    55.4   233.9   233.7   233.0   233.4
      Florida ........... 1,019.5 1,054.0 1,061.9 1,061.9   932.0   936.7   912.8   918.4 1,137.0 1,141.1 1,136.1 1,133.0
                                                                                                                         
      Georgia ...........   463.8   472.8   473.1   474.1   398.9   393.6   390.8   388.4   680.4   677.8   676.9   675.7
      Hawaii (3).........    72.9    74.3    74.3    74.2   109.4   106.0   104.7   104.8   122.9   126.2   130.5   125.6
      Idaho .............    74.2    76.0    75.8    75.9    64.0    62.9    62.0    60.2   119.5   123.1   122.8   123.2
      Illinois...........   784.7   790.1   791.7   790.7   530.2   528.0   523.5   521.9   852.4   850.5   851.6   852.3
      Indiana............   403.3   404.4   403.0   404.2   282.1   283.4   280.0   277.5   433.8   436.5   436.2   432.6
                                                                                                                         
      Iowa...............   203.4   205.7   206.2   206.9   137.3   140.1   138.7   139.9   251.0   252.6   253.1   253.4
      Kansas.............   171.8   173.3   173.6   173.0   115.8   115.3   115.5   115.9   258.8   266.0   266.6   266.3
      Kentucky...........   241.5   241.0   241.2   242.0   175.1   173.2   171.3   171.8   329.9   338.2   338.7   339.9
      Louisiana..........   250.5   253.8   253.9   255.0   198.3   198.6   198.5   199.0   364.9   365.1   365.3   366.2
      Maine..............   116.7   117.6   118.2   118.5    60.6    59.3    59.1    58.8   104.7   104.6   104.2   104.6
                                                                                                                         
      Maryland (3).......   379.0   386.5   387.5   388.3   237.4   241.8   241.6   239.5   481.3   484.6   484.5   485.5
      Massachusetts......   628.1   638.9   638.1   637.4   303.0   300.1   297.8   296.9   435.5   437.1   437.3   437.8
      Michigan...........   600.0   610.7   610.6   606.3   402.9   404.2   396.5   395.3   650.5   641.1   637.9   635.9
      Minnesota..........   434.7   442.0   441.8   445.8   248.7   248.0   241.1   239.7   416.9   419.1   419.7   416.8
      Mississippi........   126.9   128.8   128.4   127.9   126.9   121.9   120.8   120.4   244.1   241.5   241.4   242.6
                                                                                                                         
      Missouri ..........   387.0   393.8   395.1   397.1   281.8   278.3   277.2   277.0   443.5   447.4   446.3   446.3
      Montana............    59.7    60.7    60.1    60.1    58.7    59.8    60.2    61.2    86.1    86.6    87.3    85.9
      Nebraska (3).......   133.7   137.0   136.0   135.6    83.4    84.8    84.8    84.8   164.8   164.4   163.8   163.9
      Nevada.............    94.2    96.7    96.7    96.8   341.4   338.5   335.2   334.4   158.9   163.7   163.5   163.2
      New Hampshire......   105.3   107.3   107.8   107.0    64.5    63.8    61.8    61.8    95.2    94.4    95.6    97.1
                                                                                                                         
      New Jersey.........   585.9   592.9   592.9   591.0   340.8   336.0   334.5   335.8   648.8   646.7   646.2   645.6
      New Mexico.........   112.5   116.3   116.6   116.6    88.5    86.8    86.3    85.7   196.4   198.4   198.8   197.5
      New York........... 1,625.4 1,643.7 1,643.5 1,634.4   703.3   706.1   699.1   698.8 1,509.6 1,517.0 1,515.0 1,510.3
      North Carolina.....   522.8   539.5   539.9   540.9   400.0   402.4   399.4   397.9   703.6   706.6   709.0   706.2
      North Dakota.......    51.4    51.7    51.8    51.8    33.3    33.2    33.3    33.6    75.4    75.9    76.0    76.0
                                                                                                                         
      Ohio...............   795.5   804.0   804.7   805.6   497.1   499.8   500.4   501.6   798.1   797.2   797.3   796.3
      Oklahoma...........   195.4   195.7   197.8   197.4   140.4   142.1   143.2   143.1   319.9   320.4   321.8   322.3
      Oregon ............   214.9   225.5   224.5   225.7   176.5   173.1   171.1   168.4   292.9   298.6   299.4   297.8
      Pennsylvania....... 1,084.9 1,102.8 1,105.2 1,106.8   502.2   503.2   499.1   499.3   744.5   748.6   746.8   746.0
      Rhode Island.......    99.7   100.4   100.3   100.9    51.4    50.5    50.0    50.0    64.5    62.1    62.1    62.4
                                                                                                                         
      South Carolina.....   204.7   207.4   208.4   208.9   217.5   218.6   212.5   211.9   339.8   347.3   348.6   349.2
      South Dakota (3)...    60.4    62.8    62.8    63.0    42.8    43.4    43.4    43.2    75.3    76.2    76.1    76.3
      Tennessee (3)......   355.0   359.1   360.2   361.4   278.2   271.0   270.9   270.6   422.6   425.4   423.7   422.7
      Texas.............. 1,273.8 1,301.1 1,304.9 1,303.8   995.7 1,026.3 1,023.7 1,027.5 1,729.2 1,761.5 1,764.5 1,763.9
      Utah...............   142.8   147.7   149.5   150.0   113.4   113.9   113.2   111.8   207.4   211.1   212.0   211.7
                                                                                                                         
      Vermont............    57.7    58.1    58.2    58.1    33.2    33.3    33.0    33.5    53.9    54.0    53.9    53.8
      Virginia...........   420.9   429.7   429.8   429.5   351.3   346.4   345.6   342.8   688.3   701.7   702.1   700.0
      Washington.........   352.7   357.1   356.8   357.5   286.5   287.9   288.9   287.2   536.9   546.4   548.3   546.1
      West Virginia......   115.2   116.0   116.2   116.3    71.6    72.4    72.5    72.3   145.4   146.0   146.2   146.4
      Wisconsin..........   400.8   406.7   406.9   406.7   259.2   258.6   256.7   254.6   418.7   423.4   425.0   422.2
      Wyoming............   (2)     (2)     (2)     (2)      34.2    35.0    34.7    34.6    67.5    70.3    69.9    69.7

        1 Includes natural resources and mining, information, and other services, except public administration, not shown
     separately.
        2 This series is not published seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component, which is small relative to the
     trend-cycle and irregular components, cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
        3 Natural resources and mining is combined with construction.
        p = preliminary.
        NOTE:  Data are counts of jobs by place of work.  Estimates are currently projected from 2007 benchmark levels. 
     Estimates subsequent to the current benchmarks are provisional and will be revised when new information becomes
     available.  Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System
     (NAICS) as the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002.  See
     http://www.bls.gov/sae/saenaics07.htm. for more details.






     ESTABLISHMENT DATA                                                                                   ESTABLISHMENT DATA
                                                                                                     
     NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED                                                                         NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
     
     Table 6. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by state and selected industry sector, not seasonally adjusted

     (In thousands)
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                                        Total                  Natural resources and mining            Construction         
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
           State              November          December         November        December        November        December   
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
                           2007     2008     2007     2008p    2007    2008    2007   2008p    2007    2008    2007   2008p 
                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                            
      Alabama...........  2,023.2  1,997.6  2,025.1  1,983.2    12.8    12.9    12.8    12.9   114.2   110.3   113.7   109.0
      Alaska............    307.3    311.1    303.5    306.5    14.4    15.4    14.2    15.4    16.4    16.1    15.1    15.0
      Arizona...........  2,692.8  2,589.4  2,693.5  2,577.0    12.1    12.0    12.2    11.3   215.1   173.6   211.6   167.8
      Arkansas..........  1,211.9  1,202.1  1,212.1  1,193.3    10.2    10.7    10.1    10.7    55.3    54.7    54.8    53.4
      California........ 15,266.6 15,097.8 15,290.5 15,030.7    26.2    27.5    25.6    26.7   866.4   784.8   849.7   757.1
                                                                                                                            
      Colorado..........  2,353.0  2,351.3  2,367.4  2,351.2    26.0    29.4    26.2    29.5   167.7   158.4   161.9   154.0
      Connecticut.......  1,722.0  1,706.8  1,729.3  1,699.5      .8      .8      .7      .7    70.5    66.5    68.2    62.8
      Delaware .........    442.3    436.3    443.3    435.7   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)      28.3    25.9    28.3    25.1
      District of                                                                                                           
        Columbia........    702.5    706.1    704.6    705.4   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)      12.8    13.1    12.6    12.9
      Florida...........  8,074.4  7,854.4  8,124.4  7,873.7     6.5     6.4     6.4     6.4   569.7   486.4   566.2   477.9
                                                                                                                            
      Georgia...........  4,186.0  4,091.2  4,189.8  4,068.0    11.8    11.3    11.9    11.0   219.2   201.1   219.6   194.9
      Hawaii ...........    629.6    626.1    635.2    621.6   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)      39.9    37.7    40.2    36.8
      Idaho ............    662.6    642.8    658.0    629.6     4.6     4.3     4.6     3.9    52.5    46.7    50.4    42.7
      Illinois..........  6,042.1  5,979.7  6,033.1  5,931.2     9.9     9.9     9.7     9.9   278.8   256.3   266.4   232.4
      Indiana...........  3,030.6  2,951.6  3,020.8  2,908.5     7.2     7.0     7.0     7.1   154.0   143.4   148.3   129.3
                                                                                                                            
      Iowa..............  1,536.9  1,538.3  1,534.2  1,526.9     2.2     2.2     2.0     2.0    75.4    75.0    71.1    67.3
      Kansas............  1,399.6  1,407.7  1,396.8  1,397.6     9.2     9.6     9.2     9.6    66.5    65.2    63.8    61.7
      Kentucky..........  1,893.7  1,874.6  1,893.9  1,856.9    22.2    23.6    22.2    23.5    88.0    83.1    86.7    76.1
      Louisiana.........  1,948.7  1,955.0  1,949.5  1,958.0    51.4    51.9    51.6    51.7   136.5   140.8   136.0   141.1
      Maine.............    625.0    617.5    624.2    612.4     2.8     2.6     2.9     2.6    31.4    29.2    30.3    27.1
                                                                                                                            
      Maryland..........  2,638.9  2,641.6  2,645.4  2,630.4   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     191.4   185.0   190.5   180.0
      Massachusetts.....  3,314.7  3,291.7  3,315.8  3,273.0     1.6     1.5     1.6     1.4   140.8   131.2   136.7   125.0
      Michigan..........  4,285.9  4,170.2  4,276.4  4,101.4     7.5     7.2     7.2     6.9   168.0   148.5   158.7   133.7
      Minnesota.........  2,799.8  2,756.2  2,787.5  2,732.1     6.0     5.9     5.8     5.5   121.6   110.4   112.4   101.2
      Mississippi.......  1,162.2  1,143.9  1,161.3  1,135.0     9.7    10.0     9.7     9.9    58.5    58.4    58.1    57.5
                                                                                                                            
      Missouri .........  2,822.9  2,795.4  2,815.3  2,788.3     6.2     5.1     6.1     5.0   149.1   146.9   144.2   142.2
      Montana...........    447.8    447.0    447.6    443.8     8.5     8.2     8.5     8.1    33.5    30.4    31.6    28.9
      Nebraska..........    975.1    977.8    976.0    974.7   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)      51.8    52.2    50.7    50.2
      Nevada............  1,299.5  1,277.1  1,301.0  1,268.9    12.2    12.0    12.3    11.9   130.5   112.5   128.3   108.9
      New Hampshire.....    656.7    656.9    660.5    653.3     1.1     1.1     1.1      .9    29.1    28.4    28.4    26.0
                                                                                                                            
      New Jersey........  4,108.5  4,066.9  4,121.2  4,057.6     1.6     1.7     1.6     1.6   174.4   167.5   171.4   162.1
      New Mexico........    850.3    847.9    851.1    844.3    19.5    20.6    19.5    20.6    58.7    57.4    58.0    56.9
      New York..........  8,874.0  8,819.5  8,899.9  8,778.5     6.5     6.6     6.1     5.9   361.1   353.1   351.7   335.4
      North Carolina....  4,208.2  4,133.3  4,210.9  4,090.2     7.0     6.7     7.0     6.7   256.7   246.8   256.4   238.5
      North Dakota......    364.1    368.3    363.1    365.0     5.2     5.8     5.2     5.7    19.6    20.1    18.2    18.1
                                                                                                                            
      Ohio..............  5,473.1  5,418.8  5,471.3  5,381.6    12.0    12.3    11.8    12.2   230.6   220.4   223.3   204.1
      Oklahoma..........  1,586.0  1,602.4  1,584.3  1,599.7    48.9    54.1    48.6    53.8    72.7    75.5    72.1    75.0
      Oregon............  1,755.6  1,721.6  1,748.7  1,703.6     9.2     8.2     9.0     7.6   102.4    90.6    99.0    86.1
      Pennsylvania......  5,859.7  5,816.5  5,856.0  5,779.4    21.5    22.3    21.0    21.8   268.5   257.1   258.8   245.8
      Rhode Island......    496.1    478.1    495.2    473.1      .3      .2      .3      .2    22.1    20.5    21.7    19.2
                                                                                                                            
      South Carolina....  1,972.4  1,928.9  1,961.0  1,906.9     4.5     4.3     4.6     4.2   129.7   107.3   126.9   105.9
      South Dakota......    409.0    413.1    407.0    410.2   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)      23.7    23.4    22.1    20.9
      Tennessee.........  2,823.7  2,780.3  2,829.4  2,764.9   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)     138.6   137.4   138.0   132.4
      Texas............. 10,511.5 10,715.7 10,538.0 10,692.7   211.1   226.1   214.0   221.9   651.8   666.3   649.3   658.5
      Utah..............  1,271.6  1,257.2  1,278.7  1,251.3    11.3    12.2    11.3    12.1   105.7    87.9   104.6    81.3
                                                                                                                            
      Vermont...........    310.5    307.4    314.8    308.9      .9      .9      .8      .8    17.1    15.3    16.3    14.1
      Virginia..........  3,791.5  3,792.3  3,797.5  3,766.4    10.7    10.7    10.7    10.7   240.7   229.3   239.3   224.9
      Washington........  2,975.0  2,965.7  2,970.1  2,931.6     8.0     8.1     8.0     8.0   208.8   191.3   203.4   183.2
      West Virginia.....    765.9    764.9    763.5    760.8    28.9    31.4    28.9    31.4    39.5    39.1    37.0    34.6
      Wisconsin.........  2,904.4  2,867.0  2,896.0  2,833.4     3.7     3.6     3.5     3.1   128.3   122.5   120.3   111.6
      Wyoming...........    289.3    297.6    289.9    296.3    27.3    29.4    27.5    29.5    27.5    27.9    26.1    25.7
                                                                                                                            
      Puerto Rico.......  1,026.0    995.4  1,036.3  1,003.1   (1)     (1)     (1)     (1)      66.0    65.4    65.4    64.8






                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                   Manufacturing             Trade, transportation, and             Information          
                                                                     utilities                                           
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                              November        December        November        December        November        December   
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                            2007    2008    2007   2008p    2007    2008    2007   2008p    2007    2008    2007   2008p 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
      Alabama............   295.0   280.6   295.0   277.9   403.8   399.6   407.9   399.3    28.6    28.4    28.8    28.4
      Alaska.............     9.0     9.0     6.8     6.5    62.2    63.2    62.0    62.4     6.9     7.0     6.9     7.0
      Arizona............   180.0   176.5   180.6   176.3   535.0   506.6   538.2   508.2    42.8    39.6    42.8    39.4
      Arkansas...........   185.8   177.7   186.0   176.0   252.6   248.7   254.4   247.3    19.9    20.1    20.0    20.1
      California......... 1,450.9 1,412.1 1,447.0 1,400.3 2,970.0 2,900.1 3,001.2 2,904.9   471.2   476.5   475.0   468.8
                                                                                                                         
      Colorado...........   145.8   141.6   146.1   140.6   441.4   438.0   447.1   439.2    77.2    76.4    76.8    76.8
      Connecticut........   191.1   186.5   191.4   186.3   319.4   312.3   325.8   313.3    39.1    38.5    39.3    38.1
      Delaware ..........    34.5    32.6    34.4    32.4    85.7    83.5    86.0    84.4     6.9     7.1     6.8     7.1
      District of                                                                                                        
        Columbia.........     1.7     1.6     1.6     1.6    27.8    28.1    28.2    28.3    21.3    20.9    21.4    20.9
      Florida............   380.9   356.1   381.9   353.8 1,637.7 1,580.3 1,666.7 1,585.1   161.2   152.8   160.7   152.6
                                                                                                                         
      Georgia............   425.1   393.8   424.5   390.5   907.4   892.7   915.1   891.0   115.2   115.8   115.5   115.6
      Hawaii ............    15.1    15.0    15.2    14.9   122.8   118.5   124.7   119.3    10.7    10.3    10.7     9.7
      Idaho .............    65.5    59.0    65.4    57.7   135.3   129.5   135.1   128.7    10.9    11.4    10.9    11.4
      Illinois...........   673.4   661.4   675.4   657.1 1,235.0 1,228.5 1,250.1 1,233.6   116.4   114.3   116.8   114.2
      Indiana............   546.9   510.7   546.9   500.9   602.0   582.7   604.1   580.4    41.1    40.6    41.0    40.9
                                                                                                                         
      Iowa...............   230.3   225.7   230.4   223.5   313.4   317.2   315.8   319.7    33.2    32.6    33.0    32.7
      Kansas.............   186.8   185.7   186.8   182.1   268.4   267.7   269.3   271.0    40.5    40.7    40.8    41.0
      Kentucky...........   254.7   240.8   252.0   236.1   395.3   396.0   399.0   395.1    30.4    29.5    30.5    29.3
      Louisiana..........   160.0   154.9   160.2   154.5   389.6   388.7   391.3   391.4    26.2    26.5    26.6    26.6
      Maine..............    59.5    58.7    59.2    58.0   132.0   127.5   133.1   127.4    11.2    10.8    11.3    10.8
                                                                                                                         
      Maryland...........   131.6   125.7   131.5   125.8   486.1   482.4   493.4   483.9    51.4    50.8    51.6    50.8
      Massachusetts......   293.8   286.1   293.8   285.2   581.6   571.3   590.1   575.3    89.7    89.7    90.2    90.1
      Michigan...........   606.0   568.2   609.1   559.4   800.8   779.4   806.5   775.9    65.2    61.7    65.4    61.4
      Minnesota..........   339.2   326.8   337.7   322.2   542.2   532.2   544.7   529.4    58.2    56.8    58.3    56.9
      Mississippi........   168.3   160.0   168.1   157.7   230.7   228.4   231.5   228.6    13.3    13.2    13.3    13.2
                                                                                                                         
      Missouri ..........   297.8   284.0   297.3   281.6   558.6   551.9   563.1   556.8    64.3    62.3    64.3    62.4
      Montana............    20.5    20.5    20.5    20.4    94.0    93.2    94.9    93.2     7.7     7.7     7.8     7.7
      Nebraska...........   102.1    99.8   102.4    98.9   208.9   208.5   210.5   210.7    19.2    19.0    19.3    19.0
      Nevada.............    50.6    49.4    50.6    48.8   239.2   238.3   241.4   239.9    15.5    14.9    15.4    14.8
      New Hampshire......    78.2    76.1    78.3    75.2   145.4   144.6   148.0   146.5    12.4    11.8    12.4    11.8
                                                                                                                         
      New Jersey.........   311.4   297.1   311.0   295.1   894.1   882.9   908.2   889.3    98.6    97.9    99.1    97.9
      New Mexico.........    36.4    33.7    36.3    33.0   147.6   146.6   148.8   146.5    16.3    16.1    16.6    16.8
      New York...........   550.3   532.3   546.7   526.4 1,564.1 1,542.6 1,585.6 1,551.0   268.7   265.2   269.2   263.6
      North Carolina.....   536.0   501.3   535.9   496.1   793.9   775.0   801.3   770.8    72.8    72.4    73.0    72.5
      North Dakota.......    26.0    26.1    25.9    25.0    77.8    79.4    78.0    79.2     7.6     7.5     7.5     7.5
                                                                                                                         
      Ohio...............   770.1   742.8   771.2   728.7 1,073.5 1,059.2 1,086.1 1,069.6    87.2    85.9    87.5    85.7
      Oklahoma...........   150.0   150.8   150.1   150.4   294.1   293.4   295.8   295.0    28.8    28.6    29.1    28.6
      Oregon.............   203.9   189.0   202.5   185.4   349.8   340.2   351.2   339.0    36.6    35.4    36.4    35.2
      Pennsylvania.......   652.5   627.7   651.6   620.8 1,157.2 1,134.8 1,170.4 1,141.4   107.2   104.7   107.6   103.9
      Rhode Island.......    50.3    47.1    50.2    46.3    81.5    76.8    82.2    76.2    10.7    10.7    10.8    10.6
                                                                                                                         
      South Carolina.....   248.3   238.2   248.9   236.1   384.1   373.6   385.7   371.7    27.8    27.4    27.7    27.5
      South Dakota.......    42.3    42.9    42.1    42.7    82.9    83.7    83.5    84.2     7.2     6.9     7.2     7.0
      Tennessee..........   376.4   359.6   375.7   355.6   621.9   610.5   628.7   611.4    49.9    49.4    50.1    49.0
      Texas..............   936.1   925.4   936.1   917.8 2,151.0 2,174.1 2,174.4 2,187.0   222.4   217.5   223.0   217.0
      Utah...............   128.7   125.0   129.1   123.6   254.7   253.2   258.1   252.2    32.7    31.4    32.4    31.8
                                                                                                                         
      Vermont............    35.9    34.9    36.1    34.5    60.5    60.1    61.4    59.7     6.0     5.9     6.0     5.9
      Virginia...........   275.9   271.7   275.2   269.8   682.9   672.4   691.3   676.0    90.2    89.2    89.9    89.3
      Washington.........   296.5   292.8   295.4   287.8   568.5   557.5   572.2   558.2   103.5   106.1   103.6   106.4
      West Virginia......    58.6    56.2    58.4    56.2   145.8   143.0   146.6   143.6    11.6    11.2    11.5    11.2
      Wisconsin..........   497.2   474.8   496.0   469.5   560.3   550.2   564.0   549.4    50.6    50.3    50.7    50.3
      Wyoming............    10.4    10.2    10.5    10.3    56.1    56.8    56.5    57.3     4.0     4.0     4.0     4.0
                                                                                                                         
      Puerto Rico........   105.1    99.8   104.7    98.9   184.5   171.4   191.4   177.3    22.3    21.2    22.3    21.2






                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                                Financial activities         Professional and business     Education and health services 
                                                                      services                                           
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                              November        December        November        December        November        December   
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                            2007    2008    2007   2008p    2007    2008    2007   2008p    2007    2008    2007   2008p 
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
      Alabama............   100.6    99.7   101.0    99.8   222.8   222.4   222.7   218.2   211.8   209.0   211.1   207.6
      Alaska.............    14.6    14.5    14.7    14.5    24.2    24.7    24.1    24.6    36.5    37.3    36.7    37.3
      Arizona............   180.3   173.4   180.7   173.6   403.1   379.4   403.4   375.3   309.6   319.3   311.1   320.2
      Arkansas...........    53.6    53.5    54.1    53.4   118.4   116.7   117.9   116.9   156.8   159.3   156.8   160.8
      California.........   889.0   860.3   888.4   858.2 2,286.3 2,272.5 2,291.2 2,266.9 1,698.4 1,753.8 1,700.1 1,752.6
                                                                                                                         
      Colorado...........   158.2   153.1   159.4   154.6   350.7   347.3   351.5   340.0   244.2   253.8   245.1   254.0
      Connecticut........   143.4   141.8   143.4   141.7   207.1   203.8   208.0   202.8   294.4   300.2   294.8   299.1
      Delaware ..........    45.6    45.3    45.8    45.3    60.4    57.9    61.1    58.0    59.0    61.1    59.2    61.4
      District of                                                                                                        
        Columbia.........    28.8    28.4    29.0    28.3   155.5   156.0   156.2   154.7   103.7   106.0   103.2   106.0
      Florida............   539.7   521.8   541.2   522.9 1,333.4 1,275.8 1,341.3 1,288.0 1,022.8 1,067.2 1,026.0 1,068.7
                                                                                                                         
      Georgia............   229.1   226.7   228.4   226.5   566.8   540.3   566.3   537.6   466.0   475.9   465.3   475.5
      Hawaii ............    30.0    29.4    30.2    29.3    76.7    75.2    77.8    75.2    73.4    74.8    73.6    74.9
      Idaho .............    32.6    31.8    31.9    30.8    83.7    80.2    82.5    76.0    74.9    76.6    74.9    76.6
      Illinois...........   403.9   394.4   405.2   395.3   880.0   876.1   873.0   863.1   790.4   798.4   790.5   796.5
      Indiana............   138.1   138.8   138.4   136.1   294.7   281.5   290.1   276.8   407.0   408.4   408.6   409.5
                                                                                                                         
      Iowa...............   102.7   103.1   103.4   103.8   122.1   117.3   121.7   112.4   208.2   211.1   208.1   211.8
      Kansas.............    74.3    73.8    74.3    74.1   146.4   148.0   147.1   144.3   172.9   174.7   172.6   173.7
      Kentucky...........    93.8    92.2    94.4    92.1   184.9   180.6   186.8   177.3   242.2   242.0   241.8   242.1
      Louisiana..........    97.0    97.7    96.9    97.8   202.3   202.7   202.5   203.7   252.2   255.5   250.9   255.3
      Maine..............    33.0    32.1    33.1    32.0    54.2    55.5    53.9    54.5   117.4   119.3   117.4   119.2
                                                                                                                         
      Maryland...........   156.2   153.2   156.8   153.4   401.2   403.2   401.6   399.8   379.7   389.3   380.5   389.9
      Massachusetts......   223.1   217.1   224.4   217.5   487.7   489.4   486.4   480.2   638.9   649.9   638.4   647.7
      Michigan...........   208.5   202.4   209.0   200.9   576.0   560.1   573.6   541.5   605.7   618.1   605.2   611.6
      Minnesota..........   178.0   180.1   179.0   180.6   331.6   319.6   329.9   315.5   439.4   446.0   436.4   447.4
      Mississippi........    46.6    46.9    46.9    46.8    96.0    95.4    96.0    91.4   127.7   129.3   127.7   128.7
                                                                                                                         
      Missouri ..........   167.5   162.4   167.1   162.4   340.1   338.8   339.6   337.9   388.7   397.1   388.0   398.0
      Montana............    21.9    22.0    22.0    22.0    41.1    39.8    40.7    39.3    60.3    60.9    60.4    60.8
      Nebraska...........    68.9    70.2    69.3    70.1   106.2   105.8   106.6   105.7   134.7   136.9   134.4   136.3
      Nevada.............    64.1    61.3    64.5    61.0   156.9   153.9   154.9   149.6    94.1    96.9    94.5    97.1
      New Hampshire......    38.5    38.6    38.6    38.7    66.6    68.7    66.6    65.8   105.2   108.2   105.5   107.2
                                                                                                                         
      New Jersey.........   270.6   262.5   270.5   263.0   615.3   614.7   614.5   607.2   588.3   596.6   589.8   595.0
      New Mexico.........    35.2    34.1    35.7    34.1   108.6   106.7   108.3   106.1   113.8   118.1   113.7   117.8
      New York...........   730.7   712.1   732.9   713.1 1,152.7 1,136.4 1,154.9 1,122.8 1,649.9 1,674.1 1,654.2 1,663.5
      North Carolina.....   210.4   208.5   210.7   208.8   510.7   484.5   510.1   470.5   523.8   542.0   524.5   542.6
      North Dakota.......    20.0    19.9    20.2    19.9    30.3    30.4    29.8    30.0    51.2    51.7    51.4    51.8
                                                                                                                         
      Ohio...............   299.4   299.1   300.2   299.5   671.5   662.3   669.4   651.3   806.1   815.6   804.4   814.6
      Oklahoma...........    84.2    84.2    84.5    84.2   182.4   183.2   181.2   182.9   196.8   199.5   196.6   198.6
      Oregon.............   104.8   102.7   105.4   103.1   198.4   192.4   197.0   190.8   217.8   228.3   218.1   229.1
      Pennsylvania.......   330.8   326.7   331.2   326.7   712.2   711.0   712.7   697.8 1,100.5 1,122.3 1,095.7 1,117.7
      Rhode Island.......    34.4    33.0    34.5    32.6    56.3    53.3    56.0    52.2   101.8   102.7   101.4   102.6
                                                                                                                         
      South Carolina.....   107.3   107.3   107.2   107.2   230.2   221.6   227.0   213.1   204.0   209.4   205.3   209.5
      South Dakota.......    30.6    31.1    30.9    31.2    27.7    27.4    27.8    27.1    61.1    63.4    61.0    63.6
      Tennessee..........   143.8   140.8   144.2   140.2   330.4   320.0   331.8   316.8   355.8   361.9   356.3   362.6
      Texas..............   647.5   655.0   651.1   654.8 1,316.5 1,371.2 1,320.3 1,364.3 1,278.6 1,312.3 1,279.2 1,309.4
      Utah...............    74.4    72.3    75.2    74.1   163.2   162.6   163.4   162.5   144.6   151.7   145.2   152.3
                                                                                                                         
      Vermont............    13.1    12.9    13.2    12.9    22.1    22.3    22.2    22.2    57.7    58.6    58.3    58.7
      Virginia...........   192.3   189.7   192.9   190.0   646.6   653.0   650.4   645.4   425.7   435.9   426.4   434.9
      Washington.........   154.2   150.6   154.5   150.2   349.3   349.7   349.5   338.8   355.5   360.6   354.5   359.4
      West Virginia......    29.8    29.1    29.7    29.2    61.2    61.4    61.2    61.6   116.5   117.7   116.4   117.6
      Wisconsin..........   162.0   162.9   163.2   162.4   278.7   270.1   278.1   263.9   404.2   410.9   404.1   410.0
      Wyoming............    11.5    11.7    11.6    11.7    18.2    18.7    17.8    18.4    23.8    24.9    23.7    24.3
                                                                                                                         
      Puerto Rico........    48.6    46.2    48.4    45.9   105.0   100.2   104.3   100.7   107.0   105.5   108.0   108.3






                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                              Leisure and hospitality              Other services                    Government          
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                              November        December        November         December        November        December  
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
                            2007    2008    2007   2008p    2007    2008    2007    2008p    2007    2008    2007   2008p
                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                         
      Alabama............   172.1   170.0   171.6   166.6    80.2    79.9    80.2    79.9   381.3   384.8   380.3   383.6
      Alaska.............    28.4    28.2    28.5    28.2    11.4    11.6    11.4    11.5    83.3    84.1    83.1    84.1
      Arizona............   275.3   266.9   275.5   265.7    96.3    94.5    96.0    94.2   443.2   447.6   441.4   445.0
      Arkansas...........    97.9    98.7    97.3    95.3    45.1    45.5    45.2    44.4   216.3   216.5   215.5   215.0
      California......... 1,544.9 1,538.1 1,553.0 1,534.7   516.4   512.8   517.1   512.0 2,546.9 2,559.3 2,542.2 2,548.5
                                                                                                                         
      Colorado...........   263.1   264.0   275.5   274.2    92.4    93.4    93.3    93.8   386.3   395.9   384.5   394.5
      Connecticut........   134.0   134.5   135.2   133.7    64.3    62.9    64.7    63.0   257.9   259.0   257.8   258.0
      Delaware ..........    39.2    39.0    38.8    38.1    20.7    21.2    20.5    21.5    62.0    62.7    62.4    62.4
      District of                                                                                                        
        Columbia.........    55.3    54.9    54.7    54.8    63.3    65.2    64.4    65.1   232.3   231.9   233.3   232.8
      Florida............   923.2   904.9   932.1   918.5   343.1   341.9   345.9   343.6 1,156.2 1,160.8 1,156.0 1,156.2
                                                                                                                         
      Georgia............   396.3   387.9   394.9   384.3   161.4   160.4   160.9   158.4   687.7   685.3   687.4   682.7
      Hawaii ............   108.9   104.6   109.7   105.1    27.0    27.5    26.9    27.5   125.1   133.1   126.2   128.9
      Idaho .............    61.8    59.6    62.3    58.6    19.3    18.7    19.3    18.8   121.5   125.0   120.7   124.4
      Illinois...........   524.5   518.2   521.0   512.8   263.3   257.7   264.8   256.4   866.5   864.5   860.2   859.9
      Indiana............   280.6   277.8   278.6   274.1   111.6   110.2   111.9   108.6   447.4   450.5   445.9   444.8
                                                                                                                         
      Iowa...............   133.7   135.7   133.4   135.9    57.9    58.1    58.0    58.1   257.8   260.3   257.3   259.7
      Kansas.............   115.6   115.5   114.5   114.6    52.5    52.4    52.4    52.0   266.5   274.4   266.0   273.5
      Kentucky...........   173.2   169.0   171.6   168.0    76.4    75.2    76.5    74.9   332.6   342.6   332.4   342.4
      Louisiana..........   196.0   197.5   197.1   197.9    68.8    69.3    69.1    69.4   368.7   369.5   367.3   368.6
      Maine..............    54.3    53.5    54.2    52.6    19.9    19.7    19.9    19.5   109.3   108.6   108.9   108.7
                                                                                                                         
      Maryland...........   231.6   236.3   229.7   231.9   118.5   119.8   118.9   119.8   491.2   495.9   490.9   495.1
      Massachusetts......   294.8   290.5   292.3   286.6   118.1   117.1   118.5   117.0   444.6   447.9   443.4   447.0
      Michigan...........   391.7   385.7   391.7   384.2   176.2   172.8   177.0   168.1   680.3   666.1   673.0   657.8
      Minnesota..........   242.4   234.6   241.8   233.3   116.1   114.7   116.6   115.3   425.1   429.1   424.9   424.8
      Mississippi........   126.9   120.7   126.3   119.8    37.1    36.7    37.5    36.7   247.4   244.9   246.2   244.7
                                                                                                                         
      Missouri ..........   278.5   273.7   273.9   269.3   120.2   118.5   120.0   118.3   451.9   454.7   451.7   454.4
      Montana............    55.4    56.7    56.2    58.6    17.0    17.7    17.2    17.2    87.9    89.9    87.8    87.6
      Nebraska...........    81.3    83.2    81.2    82.5    35.1    35.2    34.9    35.6   166.9   167.0   166.7   165.7
      Nevada.............   337.5   333.5   339.6   332.7    36.8    37.0    36.7    37.1   162.1   167.4   162.8   167.1
      New Hampshire......    60.1    57.7    61.0    58.5    22.0    22.5    22.1    22.2    98.1    99.2    98.5   100.5
                                                                                                                         
      New Jersey.........   330.6   325.6   330.6   325.8   163.0   162.0   164.2   163.5   660.6   658.4   660.3   657.1
      New Mexico.........    86.4    84.2    86.7    83.9    29.0    29.3    28.7    28.7   198.8   201.1   198.8   199.9
      New York...........   693.2   690.2   694.1   689.7   367.2   370.4   369.2   371.0 1,529.6 1,536.5 1,535.3 1,536.1
      North Carolina.....   393.3   394.5   390.8   388.7   183.1   175.0   183.2   174.7   720.5   726.6   718.0   720.3
      North Dakota.......    32.7    33.0    32.8    33.1    15.4    15.5    15.5    15.6    78.3    78.9    78.6    79.1
                                                                                                                         
      Ohio...............   486.0   489.4   483.2   487.6   220.4   216.9   220.7   216.9   816.3   814.9   813.5   811.4
      Oklahoma...........   139.2   141.9   138.1   140.8    62.9    62.8    62.8    62.7   326.0   328.4   325.4   327.7
      Oregon.............   173.2   168.7   173.2   165.5    59.6    59.1    59.3    59.3   299.9   307.0   297.6   302.5
      Pennsylvania.......   487.9   486.3   488.5   486.0   257.0   255.7   257.9   255.3   764.4   767.9   760.6   762.2
      Rhode Island.......    49.9    48.7    49.4    48.1    23.1    21.7    23.1    21.6    65.7    63.4    65.6    63.5
                                                                                                                         
      South Carolina.....   216.8   208.9   208.2   202.6    73.8    75.0    73.0    73.2   345.9   355.9   346.5   355.9
      South Dakota.......    41.0    41.3    40.2    40.5    15.8    15.7    15.8    15.6    76.7    77.3    76.4    77.4
      Tennessee..........   274.7   267.9   273.2   265.6   102.1   102.6   102.4   102.2   430.1   430.2   429.0   429.1
      Texas..............   981.3 1,012.7   982.4 1,014.4   353.2   356.2   353.8   358.1 1,762.0 1,798.9 1,754.4 1,789.5
      Utah...............   110.1   110.3   113.6   111.9    35.4    35.1    35.8    35.2   210.8   215.5   210.0   214.3
                                                                                                                         
      Vermont............    30.6    29.8    33.7    34.0     9.8     9.7     9.9     9.3    56.8    57.0    56.9    56.8
      Virginia...........   341.4   337.0   338.1   330.3   184.7   188.0   185.0   185.1   700.4   715.4   698.3   710.0
      Washington.........   279.6   283.0   281.9   282.6   104.8   106.0   105.0   105.8   546.3   560.0   542.1   551.2
      West Virginia......    70.7    71.4    70.7    71.4    55.5    55.8    55.7    55.6   147.8   148.6   147.4   148.4
      Wisconsin..........   250.8   248.0   249.1   244.7   137.3   135.2   137.8   135.6   431.3   438.5   429.2   432.9
      Wyoming............    30.3    31.1    31.8    32.2    11.6    12.0    11.7    12.0    68.6    70.9    68.7    70.9
                                                                                                                         
      Puerto Rico........    74.4    71.1    74.7    72.2    17.9    16.3    17.5    16.4   295.2   298.3   299.6   297.4

        1 Natural resources and mining is combined with construction.
        p = preliminary.
        NOTE:  Data are counts of jobs by place of work.  Estimates are currently projected from 2007 benchmark levels. 
     Estimates subsequent to the current benchmarks are provisional and will be revised when new information becomes
     available.  Data reflect the conversion to the 2007 version of the North American Industry Classification System
     (NAICS) as the basis for the assignment and tabulation of economic data by industry, replacing NAICS 2002. For more
     details, see http://www.bls.gov/sae/saenaics07.htm.






Last Modified Date: January 27, 2009