48 states and District of Columbia experienced jobless rate decreases from last year

For the month of April, jobless rates were lower in 12 American states and the District of Columbia but unchanged in 38 states.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 48 states and the District of Columbia experienced jobless rate decreases from last year, while states had little or no change. The national unemployment rate was 6.1 per cent, registering little changed over the month.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, “non-farm payroll employment increased in nine states and the District of Columbia, decreased in two states and was essentially unchanged in 39 states in April 2021. Over the year, non-farm payroll employment increased in all states and the District”.

Unemployment rates

Notably, Hawaii exhibited the highest jobless rate of 8.5 per cent in April. Whereas the unemployment rate in California was 8.3 per cent, it was 8.2 per cent both in New Mexico and New York. The unemployment rate was Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah had the lowest rates, 2.8 per cent each.

In total, 27 states experienced unemployment rates lower than the US figure of 6.1 per cent, 11 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates while 12 states experienced unemployment rates that were not noticeably different from that of the nation.

For April, Rhode Island had the largest over-the-month unemployment rate decrease by 0.7 percentage point, followed by Hawaii (-0.6 point) and Virginia (-0.4 point). Thirty eight states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes.

The largest unemployment rate decline from April 2020 was observed in Nevada (-21.5 percentage points). The next largest over-the-year rate decline was recorded in Michigan (-18.7 percentage points) with an additional 10 states experiencing rate decreases of at least 10.0 points or more.

Non-farm Payroll Employment

In April 2021, non-farm payroll jobs rose in nine states, fell in 2 states, while remaining stable in 39 states and the District of Columbia. In California, it rose (+101,800), New York (+29,200) and Colorado (+17,000), which all had the most employment growth.

The highest percentage changes occurred in New Hawaii (+1.8%) and District of Columbia and Vermont (+0.7% each). However, employment declined in Michigan (-19,200, or -0.5%) and Alabama (-12,400, or -0.6%).

Non-farm payroll jobs rose in all states and the District of Columbia throughout the year. California (+1,302,100), New York (+1,029,800), and Texas (+1,007,100). Michigan (+21.1%), Nevada (+17.6%), and Rhode Island (+17.1%) saw the greatest percentage increases.