∙ U.S. Regional and State Employment and Unemployment -- June 2012

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Unemployment: Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in June. Twenty-seven states, including Connecticut, recorded unemployment rate increases, 11 states and the District of Columbia posted rate decreases, and 12 states had no change. Forty-seven states, including Connecticut, and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while three states experienced increases. The national jobless rate, at 8.2 percent, was unchanged from May but 0.9 percentage point lower than in June 2011. Employment: In June 2012, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 29 states, including Connecticut, and the District of Columbia and decreased in 21 states. Alaska experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment (+1.0 percent), followed by South Dakota (+0.7 percent) and North Dakota (+0.6 percent). New Mexico, Vermont, and Wisconsin experienced the largest over-the-month percentage declines in employment (-0.5 percent each). Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 44 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 6 states. The largest over-the-year percentage increase occurred in North Dakota (+6.5 percent), followed by Louisiana (+2.8 percent). The largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment occurred in Rhode Island (-0.8 percent), followed by Wisconsin (-0.7 percent). Source: USDOL

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