State Unemployment Rates for October, 2009 *
December 2nd, 2009 | Published in News
State unemployment rates for October 2009 showed little change from September. Twenty-nine states and D.C. showed small increases, while the rate in thirteen states and Puerto Rico declined. The rates in eight states remained steady.
In October, only eight states saw statistically significant increases. Alaska and Wyoming each posted a .06% jump in unemployment, although their unemployment rates remain significantly lower than the national average of 10.2%, with Alaska at 8.9% and Wyoming at 7.4%. Arkansas and the District of Columbia each saw unemployment rise by half a percentage point.
Michigan continued to lead the states with the highest unemployment rate, at 15.1%. Nevada followed with 13.0% unemployment. Rhode Island, California and South Carolina all posted unemployment rates over 12%. The unemployment rate in California was 12.5 percent for October, a record high for the state. The District of Columbia also set a record high in October, at 11.9%. Puerto Rico’s rate was 15.6 percent, down from September’s high of 16.2%, but still far above the national average.
North Dakota again claimed the lowest unemployment rate, at 4.2 %. Nebraska had the second lowest, at 4.9 percent and South Dakota was at 5.0%. In a positive sign, thirty-one states have jobless rates lower than the national average of 10.2%.
State unemployment figures for November will be released on Friday, December 18, 2009.
National Unemployment at 10.2% for October, 2009
The national unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in October 2009, the highest unemployment rate since April, 1983. The national unemployment rate has doubled since the recession began in December, 2007. More
October 2009 State Unemployment Rates *
|
State
|
Oct.09
|
State
|
Oct.09
|
|
Alabama
|
10.9
|
Montana
|
6.4
|
|
Alaska
|
8.9
|
Nebraska
|
4.9
|
|
Arizona
|
9.3
|
Nevada
|
13.0
|
|
Arkansas
|
7.6
|
New Hampshire
|
6.8
|
|
California
|
12.5
|
New Jersey
|
9.7
|
|
Colorado
|
6.9
|
New Mexico
|
7.9
|
|
Connecticut
|
8.8
|
New York
|
9.0
|
|
Delaware
|
8.7
|
North Carolina
|
11.0
|
|
DC
|
11.9
|
North Dakota
|
4.2
|
|
Florida
|
11.2
|
Ohio
|
10.5
|
|
Georgia
|
10.2
|
Oklahoma
|
7.1
|
|
Hawaii
|
7.2
|
Oregon
|
11.3
|
|
Idaho
|
9.0
|
Pennsylvania
|
8.8
|
|
Illinois
|
11.0
|
Puerto Rico
|
15.6
|
|
Indiana
|
9.8
|
Rhode Island
|
12.9
|
|
Iowa
|
6.7
|
South Carolina
|
12.1
|
|
Kansas
|
6.8
|
South Dakota
|
5.0
|
|
Kentucky
|
11.2
|
Tennessee
|
10.5
|
|
Louisiana
|
7.4
|
Texas
|
8.3
|
|
Maine
|
8.2
|
Utah
|
6.5
|
|
Maryland
|
7.3
|
Vermont
|
6.5
|
|
Massachusetts
|
8.9
|
Virginia
|
6.6
|
|
Michigan
|
15.1
|
Washington
|
9.3
|
|
Minnesota
|
7.6
|
West Virginia
|
8.5
|
|
Mississippi
|
9.8
|
Wisconsin
|
8.4
|
|
Missouri
|
9.3
|
Wyoming
|
7.4
|
Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
* Preliminary figures released November 20, 2009.
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