F.P. Report
WASHINGTON: Unemployment rates were lower in April in 13 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 37 states, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. All 50 states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. The national unemployment rate, 3.6 percent, was unchanged over the month but was 2.4 percentage points lower than in April 2021.
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states and was essentially unchanged in 39 states and the District of Columbia in April 2022. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 49 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 1 state.
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
Nebraska and Utah had the lowest jobless rates in April, 1.9 percent each. The rates in these two states set new series lows, as did the rates in the following eight states (all state series begin in 1976): Alabama (2.8 percent), Arizona (3.2 percent), Idaho (2.6 percent), Kentucky (3.9 percent), Minnesota (2.2 percent), Mississippi (4.1 percent), South Dakota (2.3 percent), and West Virginia (3.6 percent). The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 5.8 percent, followed by New Mexico, 5.3 percent. In total, 18 states had unemployment rates lower than the US figure of 3.6 percent, 10 states and the District had higher rates, and 22 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.
In April, 13 states and the District of Columbia had over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in Maryland (-0.4 percentage point). Iowa, Maine, and Minnesota had the next largest rate decreases (-0.3 percentage point each). Thirty-seven states 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.
The largest unemployment rate decreases from April 2021 occurred in California and Nevada (-3.7 percentage points and -3.6 points, respectively). The smallest over-the-year jobless rate decline occurred in Nebraska (-0.7 percentage point).
Nonfarm Payroll Employment
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states and was essentially unchanged in 39 states and the District of Columbia in April 2022. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+62,800), Florida (+58,600), and California (+41,400). The largest percentage increase occurred in New Hampshire (+1.0 percent), followed by Florida (+0.6 percent) and Arizona, Colorado, and Texas (+0.5 percent each).
Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia and was essentially unchanged in 1 state. The largest job increases occurred in California (+925,200), Texas (+742,000), and Florida (+517,100). The largest percentage increase occurred in Nevada (+8.0 percent), followed by Florida and Texas (+5.9 percent each).
