Regional and State Unemployment – November 2011

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that November 2011 saw widespread nationwide unemployment  decreases across 45 states over the prior 12-month period. Five states plus Washington, DC recorded significant unemployment increases over the same period. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate dropped nearly a percentage point from 9.8 percent in November 2010 to 8.6 percent in November 2011.

For the period of November to October 2011, New York and Texas saw the largest increase in working adults experiencing increases of 29,500 and 20,800, respectively. The largest decreases over this same period were in Wisconsin (down 14,600 jobs) and Minnesota (down 13,700 jobs). The largest employment percentage increase over-the-month was measured in South Caroline (up 0.9 percent), while the largest over-the-month decrease was found in Alaska (down 0.8 percent). The largest over-the-year gains were experienced in North Dakota (up 4.5 percent), while the highest decline was in Delaware (down 0.8 percent).

Regionally, the West continues its high unemployment trend, leading the nation at 9.9 percent. The Northeast region experienced the national percentage unemployment low at 7.9 percent. The four national regions, the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West, all measured over-the-year unemployment decreases at 0.4 percent, 0.3 percent, 0.3 percent, and 0.7 percent respectively.

Of the nine geographic divisions, the Pacific experienced the national unemployment high at 10.6 percent in November 2011. The West North Central region recorded the lowest level at 6.3 percent. All but one division experienced unemployment rate decreases over October 2011, the highest declines being recorded in both the East South Central and South Atlantic divisions, with rates equally dropping by 0.4 percent. No over-the-year increases were reported.