Employment Stable

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the national unemployment rate was little changed at 9.1% in July 2011 but was 0.4 percentage point lower than a year earlier. It noted 28 states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate increases, nine states recorded rate decreases, and 13 states had no rate change.

The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in New York (+29,400), followed by Texas (+29,300), Michigan (+23,000), and Tennessee (+14,300). The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Illinois (-24,900), followed by Florida (-22,100), Minnesota (-19,800), and Indiana (-10,100). Nevada continued to register the highest unemployment rate among the states, 12.9% in July. California recorded the next highest rate, 12.0%. North Dakota reported the lowest jobless rate, 3.3%, followed by Nebraska, 4.1%.