by Calculated Risk on 5/20/2011 10:00:00 AM

From the BLS: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

Regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed or slightly lower in April. Thirty-nine states recorded unemployment rate decreases, three states and the District of Columbia registered rate increases, and eight states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
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Nevada continued to register the highest unemployment rate among the states, 12.5 percent in April. California recorded the next highest rate, 11.9 percent. North Dakota reported the lowest jobless rate, 3.3 percent ...

The following graph shows the current unemployment rate for each state (red), and the max during the recession (blue). If there is no blue, the state is currently at the maximum during the recession.

Click on graph for larger image in graph gallery.

The states are ranked by the highest current unemployment rate.

Nevada saw the most improvement in April, but still has the highest state unemployment rate.

One states is still at the recession maximum (no improvement): Louisiana. Every other state has seen some improvement and only seven states have double digit unemployment now (19 states had double digit unemployment during the great recession).