Bureau of Labor Statistics
Regional and State Unemployment (Annual) News Release
Technical information: (202) 691-6392 USDL 08-0262
http://www.bls.gov/lau/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Friday, February 29, 2008
REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT, 2007 ANNUAL AVERAGES
From 2006 to 2007, annual average unemployment rates declined in 28 states
and the District of Columbia, rose in 16 states, and were unchanged in 6 states,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.
Employment-population ratios decreased in 28 states, increased in 17 states and
the District of Columbia, and remained the same in 5 states. Among the four
regions, jobless rates were down in two and up in two; employment-population
ratios declined in 3 of the 4 regions in 2007. The annual average U.S. jobless
rate was 4.6 percent in 2007 unchanged from 2006, while the national employment-
population ratio was essentially unchanged at 63.0 percent.
Regional Unemployment
In 2007, the Midwest was the only region to post a statistically significant
change in its annual average unemployment rate from 2006 (+0.1 percentage point).
For the second year in a row, the South reported the lowest jobless rate, 4.3 per-
cent in 2007, while the Midwest recorded the highest rate for the third consecu-
tive year, 5.1 percent. The Northeast and South both registered jobless rates
significantly below the U.S. rate, whereas the Midwest had a significantly higher
rate than that of the nation. (See table 1.)
Three of the 9 geographic divisions reported statistically significant over-
the-year unemployment rate changes in 2007. The West South Central and Mountain
divisions registered significant rate decreases (-0.4 and -0.3 percentage point,
respectively). The Pacific division had the only significant rate increase (+0.3
percentage point). The Mountain division again posted the lowest jobless rate,
3.6 percent, and the East North Central registered the highest rate for the third
consecutive year, 5.5 percent. Five divisions recorded annual average unemployment
rates that were measurably lower than that of the U.S.--the Mountain, 3.6 percent;
South Atlantic, 4.2 percent; West North Central, 4.3 percent; and Middle Atlantic
and West South Central, 4.4 percent each. The East North Central and Pacific divi-
sions reported rates that were appreciably higher than the U.S. average, 5.5 and
5.2 percent, respectively. The Mountain division had the lowest annual jobless
rate (3.6 percent) in its series in 2007. (All region, division, and state series
begin in 1976.)
State Unemployment
Ten states recorded statistically significant changes in their annual average
unemployment rates from 2006 to 2007--five states registered rate decreases and
five had rate increases. New Mexico and Texas posted the largest over-the-year
jobless rate declines (-0.8 and -0.6 percentage point, respectively), while
Florida, Minnesota, and Nevada reported the largest rate increases (+0.6 percent-
age point each). Forty states and the District of Columbia recorded annual aver-
age unemployment rates for 2007 that were not appreciably different from those of
the previous year, even though some had changes that were at least as large numeri-
cally as the statistically significant changes. (See table A.)
Hawaii again reported the lowest unemployment rate among the states, 2.6 per-
cent in 2007, followed closely by Idaho and Utah at 2.7 percent each. The states
with the highest unemployment rates in 2007 once again were Michigan at 7.2 per-
cent, Mississippi at 6.3 percent, and Alaska at 6.2 percent. Twenty-one states
registered annual average unemployment rates that were significantly below the
U.S. rate, while nine states and the District of Columbia recorded rates that were
appreciably above it. Jobless rates in the remaining 20 states were not signifi-
cantly different from the overall U.S. rate. Nine states posted the lowest annual
jobless rates in their series--Arizona (3.8 percent), Idaho (2.7 percent), Louisiana
(3.8 percent), Montana (3.1 percent), New Mexico (3.5 percent), Texas (4.3 percent),
Utah (2.7 percent), Washington (4.5 percent), and West Virginia (4.6 percent). (See
table B.)
- 2 -
Regional Employment-Population Ratios
In 2007, no region registered a statistically significant change in its annual
average employment-population ratio--the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional
population 16 years and over with a job. The Midwest and West at 64.8 and 63.5 per-
cent, respectively, had employment-population ratios that were significantly higher
than that of the nation. The South and Northeast had appreciably lower ratios, 62.0
and 62.1 percent, respectively. (See table 2.)
None of the nine divisions reported statistically significant changes in their
employment-population ratios in 2007. The West North Central again registered the
highest proportion of employed persons, while the East South Central continued to
have the lowest proportion. Three divisions recorded employment-population ratios
that were measurably higher than that of the U.S.--the West North Central (67.7 per-
cent), Mountain (65.5 percent), and New England (64.9 percent)--and three had lower
ratios--the East South Central (59.4 percent), Middle Atlantic (61.1 percent), and
West South Central (61.9 percent).
State Employment-Population Ratios
Four states posted significant decreases in their annual employment-population
ratios in 2007, and one state recorded a significant increase. The largest de-
crease was in Michigan (-0.9 percentage point), followed by Vermont (-0.8 point),
Minnesota (-0.6 point), and Texas (-0.4 point). Virginia was the only state to
report a significant increase in its employment-population ratio (+0.1 percentage
point). Forty-five states and the District of Columbia had 2007 employment-popu-
lation ratios that were not appreciably different from those of the previous year.
Five states posted employment-population ratios of at least 70.0 percent in 2007:
North Dakota, 71.2 percent; South Dakota, 71.0 percent; Nebraska, 70.7 percent; Utah,
70.3 percent; and Colorado, 70.0 percent. Nine states had employment-population ratios
below 60.0 percent, with West Virginia and Mississippi registering the lowest ratios,
53.4 and 56.7 percent, respectively. In 2007, 23 states and the District of Columbia
reported employment-population ratios that were significantly higher than that of the
U.S., and 16 states recorded appreciably lower ratios. The remaining 11 states had
ratios that were essentially the same as that of the U.S. (See table C.)
Note
All subnational estimates presented in this release were derived from updated time-
series models with real-time benchmarking to national Current Population Survey (CPS)
estimates. Subnational data reflect revised population controls and model reestimation.
Historical data were revised back to 2003. Data for regions, divisions, states, and the
District of Columbia are available back to 1976.
Consistent with the long-standing practice used in this release and the monthly
Regional and State Employment and Unemployment release, the introductory section of
this release highlights the direction of the movements in regional and state unemploy-
ment rates and employment-population ratios regardless of their statistical signifi-
cance. The remainder of the analysis, particularly in comparisons with the U.S. and
over-the-year changes, reflects model-based error measures. BLS uses a 90-percent con-
fidence level in determining whether changes or differences in subnational unemployment
rates and employment-population ratios are statistically significant. Model-based error
measures are available on the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/lau/lastderr.htm. Data
for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to the CPS, and error
measures are not available.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon
request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
- 3 -
Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment
rate changes, 2006-07 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate | Over-the-year
State |-----------------| rate change
| 2006 | 2007 |
-----------------------------|--------------------------------
| | |
California ..................| 4.9 | 5.4 | 0.5
Colorado ....................| 4.3 | 3.8 | -.5
Florida......................| 3.4 | 4.0 | .6
Idaho .......................| 3.2 | 2.7 | -.5
Illinois ....................| 4.6 | 5.0 | .4
Minnesota ...................| 4.0 | 4.6 | .6
Nevada ......................| 4.2 | 4.8 | .6
New Jersey ..................| 4.7 | 4.2 | -.5
New Mexico ..................| 4.3 | 3.5 | -.8
Texas .......................| 4.9 | 4.3 | -.6
--------------------------------------------------------------
Table B. States with unemployment rates significantly
different from that of the U.S., 2007 annual averages
------------------------------------------------------
State | 2007 rate
-----------------------------|------------------------
United States ...............| 4.6
|
Alabama .....................| 3.5
Alaska ......................| 6.2
Arizona .....................| 3.8
Arkansas ....................| 5.4
California ..................| 5.4
Colorado ....................| 3.8
Delaware ....................| 3.4
District of Columbia ........| 5.7
Florida .....................| 4.0
Hawaii ......................| 2.6
|
Idaho .......................| 2.7
Iowa ........................| 3.8
Kansas ......................| 4.1
Kentucky ....................| 5.5
Louisiana ...................| 3.8
Maryland ....................| 3.6
Michigan.....................| 7.2
Mississippi .................| 6.3
Montana .....................| 3.1
Nebraska ....................| 3.0
|
New Hampshire ...............| 3.6
New Mexico ..................| 3.5
North Dakota ................| 3.2
Ohio ........................| 5.6
Oregon ......................| 5.2
South Carolina ..............| 5.9
South Dakota ................| 3.0
Utah ........................| 2.7
Vermont .....................| 3.9
Virginia ....................| 3.0
Wyoming .....................| 3.0
------------------------------------------------------
- 4 -
Table C. States with employment-population ratios
significantly different from that of the U.S.,
2007 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------
State | 2007 rate
-----------------------------|--------------------
United States ...............| 63.0
|
Alabama .....................| 59.2
Alaska ......................| 66.2
Arizona .....................| 61.2
Arkansas ....................| 59.8
California ..................| 62.1
Colorado ....................| 70.0
Connecticut .................| 65.4
District of Columbia ........| 64.3
Florida .....................| 61.2
Georgia .....................| 64.9
|
Idaho .......................| 66.0
Illinois ....................| 64.8
Iowa ........................| 69.1
Kansas ......................| 67.5
Kentucky ....................| 59.1
Louisiana ...................| 59.3
Maryland ....................| 66.4
Michigan ....................| 59.7
Minnesota ...................| 69.6
Mississippi .................| 56.7
|
Montana .....................| 64.8
Nebraska ....................| 70.7
Nevada ......................| 65.4
New Hampshire ...............| 68.4
New Mexico ..................| 60.9
New York ....................| 59.9
North Dakota ................| 71.2
Oklahoma ....................| 60.7
Pennsylvania ................| 61.5
Rhode Island ................| 65.4
|
South Carolina ..............| 59.7
South Dakota ................| 71.0
Tennessee ...................| 60.9
Utah ........................| 70.3
Vermont .....................| 67.8
Virginia ....................| 66.9
Washington ..................| 64.8
West Virginia ...............| 53.4
Wisconsin ...................| 67.4
Wyoming .....................| 69.2
--------------------------------------------------
Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state,
2006-07 annual averages
(Numbers in thousands)
Population Civilian labor Employed Unemployed Unemployment
force rate Error range of
Region, division, and state rate, 2007 (1)
2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007
United States............. 228,815 231,867 151,428 153,124 144,427 146,047 7,001 7,078 4.6 4.6 4.6 - 4.7
Northeast...................... 42,739 42,956 27,881 27,920 26,605 26,685 1,276 1,236 4.6 4.4 4.3 - 4.6
New England................. 11,205 11,268 7,607 7,648 7,262 7,307 345 340 4.5 4.4 4.2 - 4.7
Connecticut.............. 2,707 2,723 1,836 1,865 1,756 1,780 80 85 4.4 4.6 4.2 - 5.0
Maine.................... 1,052 1,058 703 705 671 671 32 33 4.6 4.7 4.3 - 5.2
Massachusetts............ 5,078 5,107 3,405 3,408 3,241 3,256 164 153 4.8 4.5 4.0 - 4.9
New Hampshire............ 1,031 1,040 732 738 706 712 26 26 3.5 3.6 3.3 - 3.8
Rhode Island............. 838 837 575 577 546 548 29 29 5.1 5.0 4.6 - 5.5
Vermont.................. 499 502 356 354 343 340 13 14 3.7 3.9 3.5 - 4.3
Middle Atlantic............. 31,534 31,688 20,275 20,273 19,343 19,377 931 895 4.6 4.4 4.2 - 4.6
New Jersey............... 6,714 6,751 4,493 4,466 4,284 4,277 209 190 4.7 4.2 3.9 - 4.6
New York................. 15,097 15,164 9,492 9,519 9,057 9,087 435 432 4.6 4.5 4.3 - 4.8
Pennsylvania............. 9,722 9,773 6,290 6,287 6,003 6,013 287 274 4.6 4.4 4.0 - 4.7
Midwest........................ 50,760 51,100 34,723 34,888 33,001 33,095 1,723 1,793 5.0 5.1 5.0 - 5.3
East North Central.......... 35,500 35,701 23,896 23,995 22,617 22,665 1,279 1,329 5.4 5.5 5.3 - 5.8
Illinois................. 9,740 9,821 6,574 6,697 6,273 6,362 301 336 4.6 5.0 4.6 - 5.4
Indiana.................. 4,803 4,845 3,233 3,211 3,073 3,066 160 146 4.9 4.5 4.0 - 5.0
Michigan................. 7,789 7,803 5,073 5,020 4,722 4,660 351 360 6.9 7.2 6.7 - 7.7
Ohio..................... 8,845 8,874 5,947 5,977 5,625 5,640 322 336 5.4 5.6 5.2 - 6.1
Wisconsin................ 4,323 4,359 3,069 3,089 2,924 2,938 145 151 4.7 4.9 4.5 - 5.3
West North Central.......... 15,260 15,398 10,828 10,893 10,384 10,429 444 464 4.1 4.3 4.1 - 4.5
Iowa..................... 2,297 2,313 1,658 1,661 1,595 1,598 63 63 3.8 3.8 3.4 - 4.2
Kansas................... 2,083 2,101 1,471 1,479 1,407 1,419 64 60 4.3 4.1 3.7 - 4.5
Minnesota................ 3,978 4,020 2,910 2,931 2,793 2,797 118 134 4.0 4.6 4.2 - 4.9
Missouri................. 4,472 4,513 3,016 3,031 2,871 2,878 145 153 4.8 5.0 4.5 - 5.6
Nebraska................. 1,338 1,348 975 983 945 954 30 30 3.0 3.0 2.7 - 3.4
North Dakota............. 495 497 361 366 350 354 12 12 3.2 3.2 2.8 - 3.6
South Dakota............. 598 605 437 443 423 429 13 13 3.1 3.0 2.7 - 3.3
South.......................... 82,537 83,877 53,706 54,399 51,314 52,043 2,391 2,356 4.5 4.3 4.2 - 4.4
South Atlantic.............. 43,807 44,502 28,782 29,230 27,609 28,013 1,173 1,217 4.1 4.2 4.0 - 4.3
Delaware................. 658 668 439 443 424 428 16 15 3.5 3.4 3.0 - 3.8
District of Columbia..... 473 477 320 326 301 307 19 19 5.9 5.7 5.1 - 6.2
Florida.................. 14,164 14,356 8,939 9,148 8,634 8,779 305 368 3.4 4.0 3.8 - 4.3
Georgia.................. 6,931 7,090 4,732 4,815 4,516 4,603 216 212 4.6 4.4 4.0 - 4.8
Maryland................. 4,299 4,328 2,974 2,980 2,862 2,874 112 107 3.8 3.6 3.3 - 3.9
North Carolina........... 6,737 6,893 4,460 4,519 4,248 4,309 211 211 4.7 4.7 4.3 - 5.0
South Carolina........... 3,303 3,369 2,117 2,137 1,982 2,011 135 125 6.4 5.9 5.3 - 6.5
Virginia................. 5,801 5,873 3,995 4,054 3,874 3,931 121 123 3.0 3.0 2.7 - 3.4
West Virginia............ 1,442 1,447 805 809 768 772 38 37 4.7 4.6 3.9 - 5.2
East South Central.......... 13,596 13,752 8,497 8,578 8,060 8,163 437 415 5.1 4.8 4.5 - 5.2
Alabama.................. 3,522 3,558 2,159 2,183 2,082 2,106 76 77 3.5 3.5 2.8 - 4.2
Kentucky................. 3,241 3,271 2,029 2,044 1,911 1,932 118 112 5.8 5.5 4.9 - 6.0
Mississippi.............. 2,151 2,173 1,301 1,315 1,213 1,232 88 83 6.7 6.3 5.6 - 7.1
Tennessee................ 4,682 4,751 3,008 3,037 2,854 2,894 154 143 5.1 4.7 4.2 - 5.2
West South Central.......... 25,133 25,622 16,427 16,591 15,645 15,866 782 725 4.8 4.4 4.2 - 4.6
Arkansas................. 2,140 2,163 1,359 1,368 1,288 1,294 72 74 5.3 5.4 4.8 - 6.0
Louisiana................ 3,202 3,242 1,971 1,998 1,894 1,921 78 77 3.9 3.8 3.2 - 4.5
Oklahoma................. 2,700 2,731 1,719 1,733 1,648 1,658 71 75 4.1 4.3 3.8 - 4.8
Texas.................... 17,091 17,487 11,378 11,492 10,816 10,993 562 500 4.9 4.3 4.1 - 4.6
West........................... 52,337 53,215 34,821 35,444 33,222 33,773 1,599 1,671 4.6 4.7 4.6 - 4.9
Mountain.................... 15,677 16,065 10,680 10,919 10,262 10,521 418 398 3.9 3.6 3.5 - 3.8
Arizona.................. 4,623 4,760 2,969 3,029 2,848 2,914 121 115 4.1 3.8 3.3 - 4.3
Colorado................. 3,641 3,717 2,651 2,706 2,536 2,602 115 104 4.3 3.8 3.5 - 4.2
Idaho.................... 1,085 1,112 742 754 718 734 23 20 3.2 2.7 2.3 - 3.2
Montana.................. 739 750 495 501 479 486 16 16 3.3 3.1 2.6 - 3.7
Nevada................... 1,887 1,944 1,285 1,336 1,230 1,271 54 64 4.2 4.8 4.4 - 5.2
New Mexico............... 1,469 1,494 937 943 897 910 40 33 4.3 3.5 3.0 - 4.0
Utah..................... 1,837 1,885 1,318 1,362 1,279 1,325 39 36 3.0 2.7 2.3 - 3.0
Wyoming.................. 396 403 283 288 274 279 9 9 3.3 3.0 2.6 - 3.4
Pacific..................... 36,660 37,150 24,141 24,525 22,960 23,252 1,181 1,273 4.9 5.2 5.0 - 5.4
Alaska................... 493 499 351 352 328 331 23 22 6.5 6.2 5.5 - 6.8
California............... 27,369 27,699 17,907 18,188 17,030 17,209 877 979 4.9 5.4 5.2 - 5.6
Hawaii................... 979 989 648 649 632 632 16 17 2.5 2.6 2.3 - 3.0
Oregon................... 2,892 2,943 1,902 1,928 1,800 1,827 102 101 5.4 5.2 4.7 - 5.7
Washington............... 4,928 5,020 3,334 3,408 3,170 3,253 163 155 4.9 4.5 4.1 - 5.0
Puerto Rico.................... 2,982 3,023 1,407 1,394 1,261 1,241 146 152 10.4 10.9 NA
1 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded data.
NA = Data not available.
NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Unemployment rates are in percent and are based on unrounded levels. Data for sub-
national areas reflect revised population controls and model reestimation. As a result, they will not add to U.S. totals. Data for
Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to the Current Population Survey.
Table 2. Employment-population ratios of persons 16 years of age and over by region, division,
and state, 2006-07 annual averages
(Percent)
Employment-population
ratio (1) Over-the- Error range of
Region, division, and state year employment-population ratio,
change 2007 (2)
2006 2007
United States............. 63.1 63.0 -0.1 62.8 - 63.2
Northeast...................... 62.3 62.1 -.2 61.7 - 62.6
New England................. 64.8 64.9 .1 64.1 - 65.6
Connecticut.............. 64.8 65.4 .6 64.2 - 66.5
Maine.................... 63.8 63.4 -.4 62.2 - 64.7
Massachusetts............ 63.8 63.8 .0 62.7 - 64.9
New Hampshire............ 68.5 68.4 -.1 67.4 - 69.4
Rhode Island............. 65.1 65.4 .3 64.3 - 66.6
Vermont.................. 68.6 67.8 -.8 66.6 - 68.9
Middle Atlantic............. 61.3 61.1 -.2 60.6 - 61.7
New Jersey............... 63.8 63.4 -.4 62.4 - 64.3
New York................. 60.0 59.9 -.1 59.3 - 60.6
Pennsylvania............. 61.7 61.5 -.2 60.7 - 62.4
Midwest........................ 65.0 64.8 -.2 64.4 - 65.2
East North Central.......... 63.7 63.5 -.2 63.0 - 64.0
Illinois................. 64.4 64.8 .4 63.8 - 65.7
Indiana.................. 64.0 63.3 -.7 61.9 - 64.7
Michigan................. 60.6 59.7 -.9 58.7 - 60.7
Ohio..................... 63.6 63.6 .0 62.7 - 64.4
Wisconsin................ 67.6 67.4 -.2 66.1 - 68.7
West North Central.......... 68.0 67.7 -.3 67.1 - 68.3
Iowa..................... 69.4 69.1 -.3 68.0 - 70.2
Kansas................... 67.5 67.5 .0 66.4 - 68.6
Minnesota................ 70.2 69.6 -.6 68.4 - 70.7
Missouri................. 64.2 63.8 -.4 62.4 - 65.1
Nebraska................. 70.6 70.7 .1 69.6 - 71.9
North Dakota............. 70.7 71.2 .5 69.5 - 72.8
South Dakota............. 70.8 71.0 .2 69.8 - 72.2
South.......................... 62.2 62.0 -.2 61.7 - 62.4
South Atlantic.............. 63.0 62.9 -.1 62.5 - 63.4
Delaware................. 64.4 64.0 -.4 62.9 - 65.1
District of Columbia..... 63.6 64.3 .7 63.1 - 65.6
Florida.................. 61.0 61.2 .2 60.3 - 62.0
Georgia.................. 65.2 64.9 -.3 64.0 - 65.9
Maryland................. 66.6 66.4 -.2 65.5 - 67.3
North Carolina........... 63.1 62.5 -.6 61.5 - 63.5
South Carolina........... 60.0 59.7 -.3 58.7 - 60.7
Virginia................. 66.8 66.9 .1 66.0 - 67.8
West Virginia............ 53.2 53.4 .2 51.7 - 55.0
East South Central.......... 59.3 59.4 .1 58.5 - 60.2
Alabama.................. 59.1 59.2 .1 57.5 - 60.9
Kentucky................. 59.0 59.1 .1 57.7 - 60.4
Mississippi.............. 56.4 56.7 .3 55.1 - 58.3
Tennessee................ 61.0 60.9 -.1 59.7 - 62.1
West South Central.......... 62.2 61.9 -.3 61.3 - 62.5
Arkansas................. 60.2 59.8 -.4 58.6 - 61.0
Louisiana................ 59.1 59.3 .2 57.6 - 60.9
Oklahoma................. 61.0 60.7 -.3 59.4 - 62.0
Texas.................... 63.3 62.9 -.4 62.1 - 63.6
West........................... 63.5 63.5 .0 63.1 - 63.8
Mountain.................... 65.5 65.5 .0 64.9 - 66.1
Arizona.................. 61.6 61.2 -.4 59.8 - 62.6
Colorado................. 69.7 70.0 .3 68.5 - 71.5
Idaho.................... 66.2 66.0 -.2 64.6 - 67.4
Montana.................. 64.8 64.8 .0 63.4 - 66.1
Nevada................... 65.2 65.4 .2 64.3 - 66.6
New Mexico............... 61.0 60.9 -.1 59.9 - 61.9
Utah..................... 69.7 70.3 .6 68.9 - 71.8
Wyoming.................. 69.2 69.2 .0 67.9 - 70.5
Pacific..................... 62.6 62.6 .0 62.2 - 63.0
Alaska................... 66.6 66.2 -.4 64.5 - 67.9
California............... 62.2 62.1 -.1 61.7 - 62.6
Hawaii................... 64.5 63.9 -.6 62.7 - 65.2
Oregon................... 62.2 62.1 -.1 61.1 - 63.1
Washington............... 64.3 64.8 .5 63.8 - 65.8
Puerto Rico.................... 42.3 41.1 -1.2 NA
1 Employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age
and over.
2 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded
data.
NA = Data not available.
NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Employment-population ratios are based on
unrounded levels. Data for subnational areas reflect revised population controls and model
reestimation. Data for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to
the Current Population Survey.
Last Modified Date: February 29, 2008
