https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm
Economic News ReleasePRINT:PrintLAU LAU Program LinksSAE SAE Program Links
State Employment and Unemployment Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Friday, May 22, 2020 USDL-20-1013
Technical information:
Employment:
[email protected] *
www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment:
[email protected] *
www.bls.gov/lau
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 *
[email protected]
STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- APRIL 2020
Unemployment rates were higher in April in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Similarly, all
50 states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier.
The national unemployment rate rose by 10.3 percentage points over the month
to 14.7 percent and was 11.1 points higher than in April 2019.
Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia in April 2020. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased
in all 50 states and the District.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian
labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of
households. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside. The
employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm
employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on
payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information
about the concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs,
see the Technical Note.
Unemployment
Nevada had the highest unemployment rate in April, 28.2 percent, followed by
Michigan, 22.7 percent, and Hawaii, 22.3 percent. The rates in 43 states set
new series highs. (All state series begin in 1976.) The rates in Hawaii and
Nevada exceeded their previous series highs by more than 10.0 percentage points
each, while the rates in Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
exceeded their previous highs by more than 5.0 points each. Connecticut had
the lowest unemployment rate, 7.9 percent. The next lowest rates were in Minnesota
and Nebraska, 8.1 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively. In total, 27 states
and the District of Columbia had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure
of 14.7 percent, 10 states had higher rates, and 13 states had rates that were
not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A, B, and 1.)
In April, the largest unemployment rate increases occurred in Nevada (+21.3
percentage points), Hawaii (+19.9 points), and Michigan (+18.4 points). Rates
rose over the month by at least 10.0 percentage points in an additional 17
states. The smallest over-the-month jobless rate increases occurred in Nebraska
(+4.3 percentage points) and Connecticut (+4.5 points). (See table C.)
The largest unemployment rate increases from April 2019 occurred in Nevada
(+24.2 percentage points), Hawaii (+19.6 points), and Michigan (+18.4 points),
with another 21 states experiencing increases of 10.0 points or more. The
smallest over-the-year rate increases occurred in Connecticut (+4.2 percentage
points) and Minnesota (+4.9 points). (See table D.)
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment decreased in all 50 states and the District of
Columbia in April 2020. The largest job declines occurred in California
(-2,344,700), New York (-1,827,300), and Texas (-1,298,900). The largest
percentage declines occurred in Michigan (-22.8 percent), Vermont (-19.6
percent), and New York (-18.8 percent). (See tables E and 3.)
All 50 states and the District of Columbia had over-the-year decreases in nonfarm
payroll employment in April. The largest job declines occurred in California
(-2,324,000), New York (-1,904,900), and Texas (-1,110,600). The largest
percentage declines occurred in Michigan (-23.0 percent), Vermont (-21.5 percent),
and New York (-19.4 percent). (See table F.)