BLS: Unemployment Rates Lower in 9 states in June, Oregon at New Low – Info Risk Manage

by Bill McBride on 7/20/2018 10:08:00 AM

From the BLS: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

Unemployment rates were lower in June in 9 states, higher in 3 states, and stable
in 38 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
reported today. Ten states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 40
states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate
rose by 0.2 percentage point from May to 4.0 percent but was 0.3 point lower than
in June 2017.
…
Hawaii had the lowest unemployment rate in June, 2.1 percent. The rate in Oregon
(4.0 percent) set a new series low. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had
the highest jobless rate, 7.1 percent.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the number of states (and D.C.) with unemployment rates at or above certain levels since January 2006. At the worst of the employment recession, there were 11 states with an unemployment rate at or above 11% (red).

Currently only one state, Alaska, has an unemployment rate at or above 7% (light blue); And only Alaska is above 6% (dark blue).