What states have the highest unemployment rate?
The Department of Labor has released the state-level jobs unemployment data which show a decline in the number of workers without a job across the country
In September, the unemployment rate dropped to 4.8 percent or around seven million workers. However, in addition to this number, there are an additional six million people who have are jobless but have stopped looking for their next gig. Since these individuals are no longer actively looking for a job, they are not counted in the official unemployment rate.
See our interactive graphics on today’s new #BLSdata on state #employment and #unemployment https://t.co/xr2omHEaIG #DataViz
— BLS-Labor Statistics (@BLS_gov) October 22, 2021
This distinction can give the impression that the job market is recovering rather quickly, but in reality, the 4.8 percent figure is artificially low. Many workers have voluntarily left their jobs believing that they would be able to provide a job that would pay them more or allow them more flexibility.
Compared to September 2020, the number of workers on payroll has increased in forty-seven states and the District of Colombia. States that have reported the largest job growth include, "California (+795,800), Texas (+711,500), and Florida (+405,900)." As a percent, states that saw the largest increase in employment were "Hawaii (+12.9 percent), Nevada (+6.6 percent), and Texas (+5.9 percent)."
See our interactive graphics on today’s new #BLSdata on state job openings and labor turnover https://t.co/TWmH1jgOsR
— BLS-Labor Statistics (@BLS_gov) October 22, 2021
Data from August that was released on 22 October shows that "quits" increased in fourteen states in August. Nationally the quit rate increased 0.2% in August. The states that saw the highest rates of voluntary separation, or workers who quit, were:
- Kentucky -- 1.4%
- Idaho -- 1.1%
- South Dakota -- 0.9%.
As a total number of "quits," Georgia (+35,000), Illinois (+32,000), and Kentucky (+26,000), saw the highest numbers nationally.
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What states recorded the highest unemployment rate?
Eight states recorded an unemployment rate above seven percent in September:
- Nevada -- 7.7%
- California -- 7.5%
- New York -- 7.4%
- Connecticut -- 7.2%
- New Mexico -- 7.2%
- New Jersey -- 7.2%
- Hawaii -- 7%
- Illinois -- 7%
Which states saw the greatest decrease in their unemployment rate?
From August to September, all but seven states experienced a decrease in unemployment. The most significant decreases were seen in:
- Rhode Island -- 0.6%
- Arizona -- 0.5%
- Wyoming -- 0.4%
- Louisiana -- 0.4%
- Hawaii -- 0.4%
- Connecticut -- 0.4%
The seven that saw no change were, Alabama, California, Idaho, Kentucky, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.