Regional and state unemployment rates were generally unchanged in January. Twentyfour states recorded unemployment rate decreases, 10 states registered rate increases, and 16 states and the District of Columbia had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia posted unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, 9 states reported increases, and 2 states had no change. The national jobless rate fell by 0.4 percentage point between December 2010 and January 2011 to 9.0 percent, 0.7 point lower than in January 2010.

In January nonfarm payroll employment increased in 35 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 15 states. The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in Texas (+44,100), followed by Michigan (+39,700), Ohio (+31,900), Illinois (+24,500), and California (+22,600). Vermont experienced the largest over-the-month percent increase in employment (+1.8 percent), followed by Maine (+1.2 percent), Idaho and Michigan (+1.0 percent each), and Montana and North Dakota (+0.7 percent each). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Georgia (-15,300), followed by New Jersey (-13,000), Florida (-12,900), South Carolina (-8,500), and Maryland (-7,100). South Carolina and South Dakota experienced the largest over-the-month percent decreases in employment (-0.5 percent each), followed by Georgia and Mississippi (-0.4 percent each) and Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, and Rhode Island (-0.3 percent each). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 42 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 8 states. The largest over-the-year percent increase occurred in North Dakota (+4.6 percent), followed by Vermont (+2.7 percent), Texas (+2.5 percent), and Alaska (+2.4 percent). The largest over-the-year percent decrease in employment occurred in Nevada (-0.7 percent), followed by New Jersey (-0.5 percent), Kansas (-0.4 percent), and Arizona and New Mexico (-0.3 percent each).

Regional Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)

The West reported the highest regional unemployment rate in January, 10.9 percent, while the Northeast and Midwest recorded the lowest rates, 8.4 and 8.5 percent, respectively. The Midwest was the only region to experience a statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate change (-0.2 percentage point). Two of the 4 regions registered significant rate changes from a year earlier: the Midwest (-1.6 percentage points) and Northeast (-0.6 point).

Among the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific continued to report the highest jobless rate, 11.5 percent in January. The West North Central again registered the lowest rate, 7.0 percent. The East North Central was the only division with a statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate change (-0.2 percentage point). Over the year, three divisions posted significant rate changes, all of which were declines: the East North Central (-1.9 percentage points), East South Central (-0.9 point), and Middle Atlantic (-0.6 point).

State Unemployment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Nevada continued to register the highest unemployment rate among the states, 14.2 percent in January. The states with the next highest rates were California, 12.4 percent, and Florida, 11.9 percent. North Dakota reported the lowest jobless rate, 3.8 percent, followed by Nebraska and South Dakota, 4.2 and 4.7 percent, respectively. One state, Colorado, set a new series high, 9.1 percent. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.) In total 23 states posted jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. figure of 9.0 percent, 10 states recorded measurably higher rates, and 17 states and the District of Columbia had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.

In January Nevada experienced the largest over-the-month unemployment rate decline (-0.7 percentage point), followed by Indiana, Michigan, and South Carolina (-0.4 point each). Statistically significant declines also were registered in Pennsylvania (-0.3 percentage point), Maryland (-0.2 point), and Nebraska (-0.1 point). The remaining 43 states and the District of Columbia registered jobless rates that were not measurably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.

Sixteen states reported statistically significant over-the-year jobless rate decreases in January, the largest of which were in Michigan (-3.0 percentage points) and Illinois (-2.2 points). The remaining 34 states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rates that were not appreciably different from those of a year earlier.

Nonfarm Payroll Employment (Seasonally Adjusted)

Between December 2010 and January 2011, 21 states recorded statistically significant changes in employment. The largest over-the-month statistically significant job gains occurred in Texas (+44,100), Michigan (+39,700), Ohio (+31,900), and Illinois (+24,500). Four states experienced statistically significant over-the-month declines in employment: Georgia (-15,300), New Jersey (-13,000), South Carolina (-8,500), and Mississippi (-4,200).

Over the year, 24 states experienced statistically significant changes in employment, all of which were increases. The largest increase occurred in Texas (+253,900), followed by California (+89,400), Pennsylvania (+70,300), Michigan (+68,500), and Illinois (+64,200).