Regional and state unemployment rates were nearly all higher in January. Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia recorded over- the-month unemployment rate increases, while all states and the District of Columbia had higher rates than a year earlier, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The national unemployment rate rose from 7.2 percent in December to 7.6 percent in January and was 2.7 percentage points higher than a year earlier.

In January, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 42 states, increased in 7 states as well as the District of Columbia, and was unchanged in 1 state (Vermont). The largest over-the-month decreases in the level of employment were recorded in California (-79,300), Michigan (-60,800), Ohio (-59,600), and Texas (-50,600). Michigan (-1.5 percent) reported the largest over-the-month percentage decrease in employment, followed by Arizona and Ohio (-1.1 percent each) and Nevada (-1.0 percent). The largest over-the-month increases in the level of employment were reported by Maryland (+6,000), the District of Columbia (+5,800), and New Hampshire (+4,100). The District of Columbia experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment (+0.8 percent), followed by New Hampshire (+0.6 percent), Maine (+0.3 percent), and Hawaii, Maryland, and Montana (+0.2 percent each). Over the year, nonfarm employment decreased in 44 states and increased in 6 states and the District of Columbia. The largest over-the-year percentage decreases in employment were reported by Arizona and Michigan (-6.2 percent each), Nevada (-5.1 percent), Florida (-4.5 percent), and Ohio (-4.0 percent). The largest over-the-year percent-age increases in employment were reported by Wyoming (+2.4 percent), the District of Columbia (+1.7 percent), Alaska (+0.9 percent), North Dakota (+0.8 percent), and Oklahoma (+0.4 percent). Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)

In January, the West and Midwest again posted the highest regional jobless rates, 8.7 and 8.1 percent, respectively. The Northeast recorded the lowest rate, 7.1 percent. All four regions registered statistically significant unemployment rate increases from December, led by the West (+1.3 percentage points). (The over-the-month changes between December and January were affected by the end-of-year seasonal adjustment of historical data, which lowered the unemployment rates in late 2008, during the period of steep economic decline, and raised them earlier in the year.) All four regions also reported significant jobless rate increases from January 2008. The West recorded the largest over-the-year rate increase (+3.5 percentage points).

Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific and East North Central recorded the highest unemployment rates in January, 9.6 and 8.9 percent, respectively. The West South Central registered the lowest jobless rate, 6.1 percent. All nine divisions reported statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate increases. The East South Central and Pacific posted the largest increases (+1.4 percentage points each). All nine divisions also had significant over- the-year rate increases, with the Pacific recording the largest change (+3.9 percentage points).

State Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)

In January, Michigan again reported the highest jobless rate, 11.6 percent, followed by South Carolina, 10.4 percent; Rhode Island, 10.3 percent; and California, 10.1 percent. Both Rhode Island and Georgia (8.6 percent) posted the highest unemployment rates in their respective series. (All state series begin in 1976.) Four additional states and the District of Columbia recorded rates over 9.0 percent in January. Wyoming registered the lowest unemployment rate, 3.7 percent. Overall, 13 states and the District of Columbia had significantly higher jobless rates than the U.S. figure of 7.6 percent, 23 states reported measurably lower rates, and 14 states had rates little different from that of the nation.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate increases in January. North Carolina, Oregon, and South Carolina recorded the largest rate increases (+1.6 percentage points each). Three states registered January unemployment rates that were not appreciably different from those of a month earlier, though they had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.

North Carolina and South Carolina reported the largest jobless rate increases from a year earlier (+4.7 percentage points each). Six additional states also recorded increases of 4.0 percentage points or more, and nine other states and the District of Columbia posted over-the-year rate increases of 3.0 percentage points or more. The remaining 33 states had smaller, but also statistically significant, rate increases from January 2008.

Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Between December 2008 and January 2009, 20 states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically significant changes in employment. The largest statistically significant decreases in employment were reported by California (-79,300), Michigan (-60,800), Ohio (-59,600), and Texas (-50,600), while the District of Columbia (+5,800) reported the only statistically significant increase in employment.

Over the year, 36 states recorded statistically significant changes in employment--35 states experienced employment decreases, while Wyoming (+7,000) reported the only significant gain in employment. The largest statistically significant over-the-year decreases were reported in California (-494,000), Florida (-355,700), Michigan (-263,800), and Ohio (-214,600).