State Unemployment Rates

May 17, 2012

State Unemployment Rates Decline in April 2013

Unemployment declined in April 2013 in 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Rates rose in three states and remained steady in the remaining seven states.
 
States with the highest job growth were Texas, with 33,100 new jobs, New York, which created 25,300 new jobs, and Florida, where 17,000 jobs were created.  States losing jobs were Wisconsin and Minnesota, which lost 24,100 and 11,400 jobs respectively.
 
Nevada again led the states with the highest unemployment rate, at 9.6 percent, but that is down from 11.7 percent in April of 2012.  Other states with unemployment above 9.0 percent were Illinois, at 9.3%, Mississippi at 9.1% and California, at 9.0%.  At 3.3%, North Dakota again had the lowest unemployment rate, a distinction the state has carried through the recession and recovery.

The largest unemployment rate declines compared to April 2012 were in Nevada, down -1.9 percentage points; Rhode Island, down -1.8 points;  and California and Florida, each down -1.7 points compared to a year ago. Eleven more states had smaller but also statistically significant decreases over the year. 
 
State unemployment figures for May will be released on Friday, June 21, 2013.

Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release.

April 2013 State Unemployment Rates *       

*  Preliminary figures from BLS.

Note that NCSL cannot provide advice or assistance to private citizens or businesses regarding employment-related matters.  Please consult your state department of labor or a private attorney.