December jobless rates up in 6 states, down in 2; payroll jobs up in 2 states
In December 2024, unemployment rates were higher in 6 states, lower in 2 states, and stable in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 2 states and was essentially unchanged in 48 states and the District.

Economic News Release USDL-25-0104

State Employment and Unemployment Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Technical information:
Employment: (202) 691-6559 * sminfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/sae
Unemployment: (202) 691-6392 * lausinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/lau

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov


STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- DECEMBER 2024


Unemployment rates were higher in December in 6 states, lower in 2 states, and stable in 42 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-seven states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 6 states had decreases, and 17 states had little change. The national unemployment rate changed little over the month at 4.1 percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in December 2023.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 2 states and was essentially unchanged in 48 states and the District of Columbia in December 2024. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and was essentially unchanged in 17 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

South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in December, 1.9 percent. Nevada had the highest unemployment rate, 5.7 percent, followed by California and the District of Columbia, 5.5 percent each. In total, 21 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.1 percent, 5 states and the District had higher rates, and 24 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 1.)

In December, six states had unemployment rate increases, the largest of which were in Alabama and Mississippi (+0.2 percentage point each). Two states had rate decreases: Minnesota (-0.2 percentage point) and Montana (-0.1 point). Forty-two states and the District of Columbia 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. (See table B.)

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia had unemployment rate increases from December 2023, the largest of which was in South Carolina (+1.7 percentage points). Six states had over-the-year rate decreases, the largest of which was in Connecticut (-1.2 percentage points). Seventeen states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a year earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table C.)

Nonfarm Payroll Employment

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 2 states and was essentially unchanged in 48 states and the District of Columbia in December 2024. Job gains occurred in Texas (+37,500, or +0.3 percent) and Missouri (+11,200, or +0.4 percent). (See tables D and 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and was essentially unchanged in 17 states and the District of Columbia. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+284,200), California (+180,500), and Florida (+147,900). The largest percentage increase occurred in Idaho (+3.6 percent), followed by Missouri and South Carolina (+2.8 percent each). (See table E.)

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The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for December 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Regional and State Unemployment 2024 Annual Averages news release is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2025 is scheduled to be released on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

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