Key Points:
- Unemployment rates fell in September in 30 states, rose in 8 states, and remained stable in 12 states as the U.S. unemployment rate fell by 0.5% points over the month to 7.9%.
- Hawaii had the highest unemployment rate at 15.1%, followed by Nevada at 12.6%, and California at 11%.
- 34 states had jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 7.9%. Nebraska had the lowest rate at 3.5%, followed by South Dakota at 4.1%, Vermont at 4.2%, and North Dakota at 4.4%.
- The largest unemployment decreases occurred in New Jersey with a -4.4% change in unemployment from August.
- Hawaii and Idaho had the highest increase in unemployment rates with +2.1% and +1.9% increases respectively.