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. 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 iin 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 employment, 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).

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 unemployment 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.

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 additional states and the District of Columbia also experienced statistically 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.

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 percentage 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.

Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Between November and December 2008, 33 states reported statistically significant changes in employment, all of which were decreases. The largest statistically significant decreases in employment were experienced in California (-78,200), Michigan (-59,000), New York (-54,000), and Illinois (-36,000).

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 statistically significant over-the-year decreases occurred in California (-257,400), Florida (-255,200), Michigan (-173,000), and North Carolina (-120,200).