February 26, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

North Dakota had lowest unemployment rate in 2001

North Dakota posted the lowest annual average unemployment rate for 2001, at 2.8 percent.

[Chart data—TXT]

Nebraska had the next lowest rate, 3.1 percent. Three States had average unemployment rates of 3.3 percent: Connecticut, Iowa, and South Dakota. Another three States all had rates of 3.5 percent: Delaware, New Hampshire, and Virginia.

Overall, 30 States had unemployment rates below the national average of 4.8 percent in 2001. All seven States in the West North Central division and all six in New England had rates below the U.S. average.

These data are a product of the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. To learn more, see State and Regional Unemployment, 2001 Annual Averages, news release USDL 02-97.