by Calculated Risk on 6/17/2016 10:18:00 AM

From the BLS: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

Unemployment rates were significantly higher in May in 5 states, lower in 4 states and the District of Columbia, and stable in 41 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
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South Dakota and New Hampshire had the lowest jobless rates in May, 2.5 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively. The rate in Arkansas (3.8 percent) set a new series low. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.) Alaska had the highest unemployment rate, 6.7 percent.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the current unemployment rate for each state (red), and the max during the recession (blue). All states are well below the maximum unemployment rate for the recession.

The size of the blue bar indicates the amount of improvement.   The yellow squares are the lowest unemployment rate per state since 1976.

The states are ranked by the highest current unemployment rate. Alaska, at 6.7%, had the highest state unemployment rate.

The second graph shows the number of states (and D.C.) with unemployment rates at or above certain levels since January 2006. At the worst of the employment recession, there were 11 states with an unemployment rate at or above 11% (red).

Currently no state has an unemployment rate at or above 7% (light blue); Only seven states and D.C are at or above 6% (dark blue).