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February Unemployment Numbers: Lower in Eight States, Higher in One
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Unemployment rates were lower in February in 8 states, higher in 1 state, and stable in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eleven states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 1 state had an increase, and 38 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate, 3.5 percent, was little changed over the month but was 0.3 percentage point lower than in February 2019.
State unemployment rates for March 2020 will be released in April 2020.
2020 State Monthly Unemployment Rates
| State |
Jan. |
Feb. |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| Alabama |
2.7 |
2.7 |
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| Alaska |
6.0 |
5.8
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| Arizona |
4.5 |
4.5 |
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| Arkansas |
3.5 |
3.9 |
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| California |
3.9 |
2.5 |
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| Colorado |
2.5 |
2.8 |
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| Connecticut |
3.7 |
3.9 |
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| Delaware |
4.0 |
5.2 |
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| D.C. |
5.2 |
2.8 |
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| Florida |
2.8 |
3.1 |
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| Georgia |
3.1 |
2.7 |
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| Hawaii |
2.7 |
2.7 |
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| Idaho |
2.8 |
3.4 |
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| Illinois |
3.5 |
3.1 |
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| Indiana |
3.1 |
2.8 |
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| Iowa |
2.8 |
3.1 |
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| Kansas |
3.1 |
4.2 |
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| Kentucky |
4.3 |
5.2 |
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| Louisiana |
5.1 |
3.2 |
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| Maine |
3.1 |
3.3 |
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| Maryland |
3.3 |
2.8 |
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| Massachusetts |
2.8 |
3.6 |
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| Michigan |
3.8 |
3.1 |
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| Minnesota |
3.2 |
5.4 |
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| Mississippi |
5.5 |
3.5 |
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| Missouri |
3.5 |
3.5 |
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| Montana |
3.5 |
2.9 |
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| Nebraska |
3.9 |
3.6 |
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| Nevada |
3.6 |
3.6 |
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| New Hampshire |
2.6 |
3.8 |
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| New Jersey |
3.8 |
4.8 |
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| New Mexico |
4.8 |
3.7 |
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| New York |
3.8 |
3.6 |
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| North Carolina |
3.6 |
2.2 |
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| North Dakota |
2.3 |
4.2 |
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| Ohio |
4.1 |
3.2 |
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| Oklahoma |
3.3 |
3.3 |
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| Oregon |
3.3 |
4.7 |
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| Pennsylvania |
4.7 |
3.4 |
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| Rhode Island |
3.1 |
2.5 |
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| South Carolina |
2.4 |
3.3 |
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| South Dakota |
3.4 |
3.4 |
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| Tennessee |
3.3 |
3.5 |
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| Texas |
4.5 |
2.5 |
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| Utah |
2.5 |
3.4 |
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| Vermont |
2.4 |
2.6 |
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| Virginia |
2.7 |
3.8 |
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| Washington |
3.9 |
4.9 |
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| West Virginia |
5.0 |
3.7 |
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| Wisconsin |
3.5 |
2.7 |
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| Wyoming |
3.7 |
5.8 |
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| Puerto Rico |
8.9 |
4.5 |
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Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
* 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.
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