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Friday, March 22, 2019

BLS: Unemployment Rates at New Series Lows in Alabama, North Dakota, Tennesse and Vermont

by Calculated Risk on 3/22/2019 03:01:00 PM

From the BLS: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

Unemployment rates were lower in February in 4 states and stable in 46 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
...
Iowa, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Vermont had the lowest unemployment rates in February, 2.4 percent each. The rates in Alabama (3.7 percent), North Dakota (2.4 percent), Tennessee (3.2 percent), and Vermont (2.4 percent) set new series lows.
emphasis added
State UnemploymentClick on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the number of states (and D.C.) with unemployment rates at or above certain levels since January 1976.

At the worst of the great recession, there were 11 states with an unemployment rate at or above 11% (red).

Currently only one state, Alaska, has an unemployment rate at or above 6% (dark blue).  Note that the series low for Alaska is above 6%.  Four states and the D.C. have unemployment rates above 5%; Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico and West Virginia.

A total of nine states are at the series low.