Midwestern States Suffered Most Job Losses in March

Posted By Mike Maciag | April 19, 2013

Midwestern states lost thousands of jobs in March as the recovery stalled, U.S. Labor Department estimates released Friday show.

Ohio shed an estimated 20,400 jobs in March -- the most of any state. Other states recording notable job losses included Illinois (-17,800), Indiana (-12,400), Missouri (-8,600) and Wisconsin (-8,500). In all, 26 states reported declines in payroll employment last month, although most weren't considered statistically significant.

Other states enjoyed a better month. Florida led the nation with an estimated 32,700 jobs created, followed by California (+25,500) and Georgia (+13,600).

Over the year, payroll employment has expanded in nearly all states, led by Texas and California.

Unemployment rates -- measured using a different survey of households -- dipped in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Seven of these states saw their jobless rates decline 0.3 percent.

North Dakota and Nebraska are home to the country’s lowest unemployment rates, while Nevada continues to have the highest rate, 9.7 percent.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate stood at 7.6 percent in March.

Even though states have seen their rates decline, it’s also worth noting that fewer people are looking for work in some areas. The number of workers employed or seeking work declined by 496,000 last month, causing the labor force participation rate to drop from 63.5 to 63.3 percent.

State Employment Totals and Unemployment Rates:

State	Monthly Change	February Nonfarm Employment	March Nonfarm Employment	3/2012 Jobless Rate	3/2013 Jobless Rate	Year-Over-Year Change

Alabama	2,200	1,886,100	1,888,300	7.2	7.2	0
Alaska	100	335,100	335,200	7	6.2	-0.8
Arizona	7,500	2,489,300	2,496,800	8.4	7.9	-0.5
Arkansas	2,400	1,181,700	1,184,100	7.3	7.2	-0.1
California	25,500	14,566,600	14,592,100	10.7	9.4	-1.3
Colorado	500	2,353,100	2,353,600	8.2	7.1	-1.1
Connecticut	2,600	1,640,400	1,643,000	8.1	8	-0.1
Delaware	-3,100	426,800	423,700	7	7.3	0.3
Florida	32,700	7,474,400	7,507,100	8.9	7.5	-1.4
Georgia	13,600	4,000,400	4,014,000	9.1	8.4	-0.7
Hawaii	-500	609,800	609,300	6.2	5.1	-1.1
Idaho	-900	635,400	634,500	7.4	6.2	-1.2
Illinois	-17,800	5,794,000	5,776,200	8.8	9.5	0.7
Indiana	-12,400	2,936,400	2,924,000	8.2	8.7	0.5
Iowa	-5,500	1,522,700	1,517,200	5.4	4.9	-0.5
Kansas	-5,900	1,373,300	1,367,400	5.8	5.6	-0.2
Kentucky	-8,400	1,843,800	1,835,400	8.2	8	-0.2
Louisiana	2,800	1,941,400	1,944,200	6.8	6.2	-0.6
Maine	-600	598,100	597,500	7.3	7.1	-0.2
Maryland	4,700	2,606,500	2,611,200	6.7	6.6	-0.1
Massachusetts	-5,500	3,317,200	3,311,700	6.6	6.4	-0.2
Michigan	-6,600	4,064,000	4,057,400	9	8.5	-0.5
Minnesota	-5,200	2,775,300	2,770,100	5.7	5.4	-0.3
Mississippi	800	1,115,800	1,116,600	9	9.4	0.4
Missouri	-8,600	2,686,700	2,678,100	7	6.7	-0.3
Montana	-700	446,100	445,400	6.1	5.6	-0.5
Nebraska	1,400	964,300	965,700	3.9	3.8	-0.1
Nevada	-2,900	1,159,100	1,156,200	11.6	9.7	-1.9
New Hampshire	900	637,800	638,700	5.3	5.7	0.4
New Jersey	8,100	3,939,400	3,947,500	9.3	9	-0.3
New Mexico	0	808,000	808,000	6.9	6.9	0
New York	11,200	8,865,900	8,877,100	8.5	8.2	-0.3
North Carolina	-300	4,048,900	4,048,600	9.4	9.2	-0.2
North Dakota	500	440,700	441,200	3	3.3	0.3
Ohio	-20,400	5,197,300	5,176,900	7.4	7.1	-0.3
Oklahoma	-1,600	1,624,000	1,622,400	5.1	5	-0.1
Oregon	1,900	1,655,800	1,657,700	8.8	8.2	-0.6
Pennsylvania	-5,900	5,748,200	5,742,300	7.6	7.9	0.3
Rhode Island	1,500	465,500	467,000	10.6	9.1	-1.5
South Carolina	-600	1,879,900	1,879,300	9.3	8.4	-0.9
South Dakota	700	419,000	419,700	4.4	4.3	-0.1
Tennessee	-6,600	2,758,400	2,751,800	8	7.9	-0.1
Texas	-4,100	11,118,100	11,114,000	7	6.4	-0.6
Utah	6,800	1,281,500	1,288,300	5.8	4.9	-0.9
Vermont	-400	306,700	306,300	4.8	4.1	-0.7
Virginia	-5,700	3,761,200	3,755,500	5.9	5.3	-0.6
Washington	-5,500	2,915,000	2,909,500	8.4	7.3	-1.1
West Virginia	400	769,000	769,400	7	7	0
Wisconsin	-8,500	2,812,800	2,804,300	6.9	7.1	0.2
Wyoming	1,300	289,400	290,700	5.5	4.9	-0.6

NOTE: March figures are preliminary. Job totals and unemployment rates are seasonally-adjusted.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mike Maciag

Mike Maciag is Data Editor for GOVERNING.

E-mail: mmaciag@governing.com
Twitter: @mmaciag

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