State Employment and Unemployment Summary | April 2022
Unemployment rates were lower in April in 13 states and the District of Columbia
and stable in 37 states, the U.S. 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 U.S. 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. (See tables A and 1.)
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. (See table B.)
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).
(See table C.)
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).
(See tables D and 3.)
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). (See table E.)
_____________
The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for April
is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
The State Employment and Unemployment news release for May is scheduled to
be released on Friday, June 17, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Table A. States with unemployment rates significantly different
from that of the U.S., April 2022, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------
State | Rate(p)
--------------------------------------------------------------
United States (1) ...................| 3.6
|
Alabama .............................| 2.8
Alaska ..............................| 4.9
California ..........................| 4.6
Delaware ............................| 4.5
District of Columbia ................| 5.8
Florida .............................| 3.0
Georgia .............................| 3.1
Idaho ...............................| 2.6
Illinois ............................| 4.6
Indiana .............................| 2.2
|
Iowa ................................| 3.0
Kansas ..............................| 2.4
Michigan ............................| 4.3
Minnesota ...........................| 2.2
Montana .............................| 2.3
Nebraska ............................| 1.9
Nevada ..............................| 5.0
New Hampshire .......................| 2.3
New Mexico ..........................| 5.3
New York ............................| 4.5
|
North Dakota ........................| 2.8
Oklahoma ............................| 2.7
Pennsylvania ........................| 4.8
South Dakota ........................| 2.3
Texas ...............................| 4.3
Utah ................................| 1.9
Vermont .............................| 2.5
Virginia ............................| 3.0
Wisconsin ...........................| 2.8
--------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Data are not preliminary.
(p) = preliminary.
Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from March 2022 to April 2022, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-month
State | March | April | change(p)
| 2022 | 2022(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
California .....................| 4.8 | 4.6 | -0.2
District of Columbia ...........| 6.0 | 5.8 | -.2
Florida ........................| 3.2 | 3.0 | -.2
Iowa ...........................| 3.3 | 3.0 | -.3
Maine ..........................| 3.6 | 3.3 | -.3
Maryland .......................| 4.6 | 4.2 | -.4
Massachusetts ..................| 4.3 | 4.1 | -.2
Minnesota ......................| 2.5 | 2.2 | -.3
Missouri .......................| 3.6 | 3.4 | -.2
North Dakota ...................| 2.9 | 2.8 | -.1
| | |
Rhode Island ...................| 3.4 | 3.2 | -.2
South Dakota ...................| 2.5 | 2.3 | -.2
Texas ..........................| 4.4 | 4.3 | -.1
Vermont ........................| 2.6 | 2.5 | -.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table C. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes
from April 2021 to April 2022, seasonally adjusted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rate |
|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year
State | April | April | change(p)
| 2021 | 2022(p) |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ........................| 3.6 | 2.8 | -0.8
Alaska .........................| 7.0 | 4.9 | -2.1
Arizona ........................| 5.6 | 3.2 | -2.4
Arkansas .......................| 4.5 | 3.2 | -1.3
California .....................| 8.3 | 4.6 | -3.7
Colorado .......................| 6.1 | 3.6 | -2.5
Connecticut ....................| 7.0 | 4.4 | -2.6
Delaware .......................| 5.8 | 4.5 | -1.3
District of Columbia ...........| 6.8 | 5.8 | -1.0
Florida ........................| 5.1 | 3.0 | -2.1
| | |
Georgia ........................| 4.3 | 3.1 | -1.2
Hawaii .........................| 6.3 | 4.2 | -2.1
Idaho ..........................| 3.8 | 2.6 | -1.2
Illinois .......................| 6.6 | 4.6 | -2.0
Indiana ........................| 4.1 | 2.2 | -1.9
Iowa ...........................| 4.5 | 3.0 | -1.5
Kansas .........................| 3.5 | 2.4 | -1.1
Kentucky .......................| 4.7 | 3.9 | -.8
Louisiana ......................| 6.1 | 4.1 | -2.0
Maine ..........................| 5.0 | 3.3 | -1.7
| | |
Maryland .......................| 5.7 | 4.2 | -1.5
Massachusetts ..................| 6.3 | 4.1 | -2.2
Michigan .......................| 6.2 | 4.3 | -1.9
Minnesota ......................| 3.5 | 2.2 | -1.3
Mississippi ....................| 6.2 | 4.1 | -2.1
Missouri .......................| 4.7 | 3.4 | -1.3
Montana ........................| 3.6 | 2.3 | -1.3
Nebraska .......................| 2.6 | 1.9 | -.7
Nevada .........................| 8.6 | 5.0 | -3.6
New Hampshire ..................| 3.8 | 2.3 | -1.5
| | |
New Jersey .....................| 7.0 | 4.1 | -2.9
New Mexico .....................| 7.3 | 5.3 | -2.0
New York .......................| 7.8 | 4.5 | -3.3
North Carolina .................| 5.1 | 3.4 | -1.7
North Dakota ...................| 4.0 | 2.8 | -1.2
Ohio ...........................| 5.6 | 4.0 | -1.6
Oklahoma .......................| 4.5 | 2.7 | -1.8
Oregon .........................| 5.9 | 3.7 | -2.2
Pennsylvania ...................| 6.9 | 4.8 | -2.1
Rhode Island ...................| 6.1 | 3.2 | -2.9
| | |
South Carolina .................| 4.2 | 3.3 | -.9
South Dakota ...................| 3.2 | 2.3 | -.9
Tennessee ......................| 4.8 | 3.2 | -1.6
Texas ..........................| 6.2 | 4.3 | -1.9
Utah ...........................| 2.9 | 1.9 | -1.0
Vermont ........................| 3.7 | 2.5 | -1.2
Virginia .......................| 4.3 | 3.0 | -1.3
Washington .....................| 5.7 | 4.1 | -1.6
West Virginia ..................| 5.5 | 3.6 | -1.9
Wisconsin ......................| 4.3 | 2.8 | -1.5
Wyoming ........................| 4.8 | 3.3 | -1.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table D. States with statistically significant employment changes from
March 2022 to April 2022, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-month change(p)
State | March | April |---------------------------
| 2022 | 2022(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arizona ......................| 3,028,800 | 3,044,900 | 16,100 | 0.5
California ...................| 17,410,600 | 17,452,000 | 41,400 | .2
Colorado .....................| 2,834,000 | 2,848,600 | 14,600 | .5
Florida ......................| 9,234,000 | 9,292,600 | 58,600 | .6
Georgia ......................| 4,746,500 | 4,765,500 | 19,000 | .4
Minnesota ....................| 2,895,500 | 2,907,400 | 11,900 | .4
New Hampshire ................| 680,000 | 686,600 | 6,600 | 1.0
New Jersey ...................| 4,176,700 | 4,191,500 | 14,800 | .4
New York .....................| 9,372,200 | 9,398,100 | 25,900 | .3
Texas ........................| 13,221,700 | 13,284,500 | 62,800 | .5
Washington ...................| 3,475,900 | 3,488,200 | 12,300 | .4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
Table E. States with statistically significant employment changes from
April 2021 to April 2022, seasonally adjusted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | Over-the-year change(p)
State | April | April |---------------------------
| 2021 | 2022(p) | Level | Percent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama ......................| 2,028,300 | 2,066,600 | 38,300 | 1.9
Alaska .......................| 309,400 | 316,700 | 7,300 | 2.4
Arizona ......................| 2,928,400 | 3,044,900 | 116,500 | 4.0
Arkansas .....................| 1,273,800 | 1,311,200 | 37,400 | 2.9
California ...................| 16,526,800 | 17,452,000 | 925,200 | 5.6
Colorado .....................| 2,719,600 | 2,848,600 | 129,000 | 4.7
Connecticut ..................| 1,599,800 | 1,647,100 | 47,300 | 3.0
District of Columbia .........| 730,400 | 764,800 | 34,400 | 4.7
Florida ......................| 8,775,500 | 9,292,600 | 517,100 | 5.9
Georgia ......................| 4,513,500 | 4,765,500 | 252,000 | 5.6
| | | |
Hawaii .......................| 576,500 | 605,300 | 28,800 | 5.0
Idaho ........................| 790,300 | 815,500 | 25,200 | 3.2
Illinois .....................| 5,766,800 | 6,002,600 | 235,800 | 4.1
Indiana ......................| 3,060,500 | 3,169,700 | 109,200 | 3.6
Iowa .........................| 1,529,400 | 1,565,700 | 36,300 | 2.4
Kansas .......................| 1,370,500 | 1,393,400 | 22,900 | 1.7
Kentucky .....................| 1,884,300 | 1,943,300 | 59,000 | 3.1
Louisiana ....................| 1,864,600 | 1,910,100 | 45,500 | 2.4
Maine ........................| 620,100 | 639,300 | 19,200 | 3.1
Maryland .....................| 2,625,500 | 2,703,300 | 77,800 | 3.0
| | | |
Massachusetts ................| 3,483,700 | 3,662,100 | 178,400 | 5.1
Michigan .....................| 4,153,800 | 4,325,600 | 171,800 | 4.1
Minnesota ....................| 2,835,800 | 2,907,400 | 71,600 | 2.5
Mississippi ..................| 1,127,100 | 1,157,000 | 29,900 | 2.7
Missouri .....................| 2,823,300 | 2,899,300 | 76,000 | 2.7
Montana ......................| 489,500 | 507,300 | 17,800 | 3.6
Nebraska .....................| 1,003,200 | 1,027,900 | 24,700 | 2.5
Nevada .......................| 1,338,400 | 1,445,500 | 107,100 | 8.0
New Hampshire ................| 657,500 | 686,600 | 29,100 | 4.4
New Jersey ...................| 3,977,100 | 4,191,500 | 214,400 | 5.4
| | | |
New Mexico ...................| 801,100 | 846,700 | 45,600 | 5.7
New York .....................| 8,952,800 | 9,398,100 | 445,300 | 5.0
North Carolina ...............| 4,543,500 | 4,729,100 | 185,600 | 4.1
North Dakota .................| 415,200 | 425,500 | 10,300 | 2.5
Ohio .........................| 5,356,500 | 5,473,900 | 117,400 | 2.2
Oklahoma .....................| 1,637,400 | 1,676,800 | 39,400 | 2.4
Oregon .......................| 1,860,600 | 1,941,800 | 81,200 | 4.4
Pennsylvania .................| 5,707,500 | 5,917,800 | 210,300 | 3.7
Rhode Island .................| 476,300 | 495,500 | 19,200 | 4.0
South Carolina ...............| 2,133,400 | 2,199,800 | 66,400 | 3.1
| | | |
South Dakota .................| 438,200 | 448,100 | 9,900 | 2.3
Tennessee ....................| 3,065,800 | 3,211,400 | 145,600 | 4.7
Texas ........................| 12,542,500 | 13,284,500 | 742,000 | 5.9
Utah .........................| 1,602,000 | 1,661,300 | 59,300 | 3.7
Vermont ......................| 294,100 | 300,800 | 6,700 | 2.3
Virginia .....................| 3,913,300 | 4,037,800 | 124,500 | 3.2
Washington ...................| 3,322,900 | 3,488,200 | 165,300 | 5.0
West Virginia ................| 683,800 | 701,200 | 17,400 | 2.5
Wisconsin ....................| 2,877,800 | 2,930,400 | 52,600 | 1.8
Wyoming ......................| 277,500 | 286,300 | 8,800 | 3.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(p) = preliminary.
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