March 11, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

State with lowest unemployment rate in 2004: Hawaii

In 2004, Hawaii had the lowest jobless rate among all States at 3.3 percent.

States with the lowest unemployment rates, and U.S. unemployment rate, 2004
[Chart data—TXT]

West North Central States posted the next lowest rates. North Dakota’s jobless rate was 3.4 percent and South Dakota’s was 3.5 percent. Five additional States reported annual average unemployment rates below 4.0 percent.

Overall, 30 States had unemployment rates below the national average of 5.5 percent in 2004.

These data are from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. To learn more, see State and Regional Unemployment, 2004 Annual Averages (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-385.