New York added an estimated 35,100 jobs -- the most of any state -- driven by gains in the leisure and hospitality and business services sectors. Neighboring New Jersey netted 30,200 jobs for the month, followed by Georgia (14,400) and Missouri (10,200).
California, which has added about 225,000 jobs over the year, saw its payrolls decline by an estimated 17,500 positions. Other states recording notable losses for the month include Florida (-15,300) and Louisiana (-11,400).
Of the 22 states registering a decrease in December’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate, the Labor Department only considered the decline in five states to be statistically significant. Nevada saw its jobless rate drop 0.6 percent for the month. Along with Rhode Island, it is the only state still with a double-digit unemployment rate, both at 10.2 percent.
The national seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate of 7.8 percent remained unchanged from November. The Labor Department calculates unemployment rates from a survey of households and nonfarm payroll data using a separate survey of businesses.
Updated figures will be released Feb. 1. in the January jobs report.
State Employment Totals and Unemployment Rates:
| State | Monthly Change | November Nonfarm Employment | December Nonfarm Employment | 12/2011 Jobless Rate | 12/2012 Jobless Rate | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | -1,800 | 1,879,900 | 1,878,100 | 8 | 7.1 | -0.9 |
| Alaska | 1,300 | 327,400 | 328,700 | 7.4 | 6.6 | -0.8 |
| Arizona | 700 | 2,478,600 | 2,479,300 | 9 | 7.9 | -1.1 |
| Arkansas | -3,000 | 1,172,000 | 1,169,000 | 7.8 | 7.1 | -0.7 |
| California | -17,500 | 14,416,300 | 14,398,800 | 11.2 | 9.8 | -1.4 |
| Colorado | -2,400 | 2,319,000 | 2,316,600 | 7.9 | 7.6 | -0.3 |
| Connecticut | -1,800 | 1,625,200 | 1,623,400 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 0.5 |
| Delaware | 900 | 418,000 | 418,900 | 7.2 | 6.9 | -0.3 |
| District of Columbia | 1,800 | 733,800 | 735,600 | 10.1 | 8.5 | -1.6 |
| Florida | -15,300 | 7,403,400 | 7,388,100 | 9.9 | 8 | -1.9 |
| Georgia | 14,400 | 3,956,700 | 3,971,100 | 9.4 | 8.6 | -0.8 |
| Hawaii | -4,000 | 612,400 | 608,400 | 6.6 | 5.2 | -1.4 |
| Idaho | 2,000 | 621,900 | 623,900 | 8.3 | 6.6 | -1.7 |
| Illinois | -7,600 | 5,725,500 | 5,717,900 | 9.7 | 8.7 | -1 |
| Indiana | 6,000 | 2,900,800 | 2,906,800 | 8.9 | 8.2 | -0.7 |
| Iowa | 300 | 1,493,900 | 1,494,200 | 5.6 | 4.9 | -0.7 |
| Kansas | 7,400 | 1,343,300 | 1,350,700 | 6.4 | 5.4 | -1 |
| Kentucky | -4,400 | 1,837,700 | 1,833,300 | 9 | 8.1 | -0.9 |
| Louisiana | -11,400 | 1,961,900 | 1,950,500 | 7 | 5.5 | -1.5 |
| Maine | -2,700 | 594,200 | 591,500 | 7 | 7.3 | 0.3 |
| Maryland | 4,900 | 2,584,200 | 2,589,100 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 7,500 | 3,255,900 | 3,263,400 | 6.9 | 6.7 | -0.2 |
| Michigan | -10,600 | 3,983,900 | 3,973,300 | 9.3 | 8.9 | -0.4 |
| Minnesota | 9,100 | 2,726,100 | 2,735,200 | 5.7 | 5.5 | -0.2 |
| Mississippi | -1,500 | 1,094,000 | 1,092,500 | 10.4 | 8.6 | -1.8 |
| Missouri | 10,200 | 2,662,500 | 2,672,700 | 8 | 6.7 | -1.3 |
| Montana | 500 | 434,900 | 435,400 | 6.6 | 5.7 | -0.9 |
| Nebraska | -1,400 | 954,900 | 953,500 | 4.2 | 3.7 | -0.5 |
| Nevada | 2,000 | 1,148,300 | 1,150,300 | 13 | 10.2 | -2.8 |
| New Hampshire | -300 | 626,800 | 626,500 | 5.2 | 5.7 | 0.5 |
| New Jersey | 30,200 | 3,892,400 | 3,922,600 | 9.1 | 9.6 | 0.5 |
| New Mexico | 2,300 | 798,500 | 800,800 | 7 | 6.4 | -0.6 |
| New York | 35,100 | 8,805,500 | 8,840,600 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 7,900 | 3,996,700 | 4,004,600 | 10.4 | 9.2 | -1.2 |
| North Dakota | -700 | 422,000 | 421,300 | 3.3 | 3.2 | -0.1 |
| Ohio | -9,400 | 5,194,400 | 5,185,000 | 7.9 | 6.7 | -1.2 |
| Oklahoma | -2,000 | 1,602,500 | 1,600,500 | 6.3 | 5.1 | -1.2 |
| Oregon | 2,000 | 1,637,000 | 1,639,000 | 9 | 8.4 | -0.6 |
| Pennsylvania | -4,800 | 5,756,300 | 5,751,500 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 0.2 |
| Rhode Island | 1,200 | 457,600 | 458,800 | 11 | 10.2 | -0.8 |
| South Carolina | 5,300 | 1,873,800 | 1,879,100 | 9.6 | 8.4 | -1.2 |
| South Dakota | 300 | 408,900 | 409,200 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 0.1 |
| Tennessee | 6,000 | 2,703,900 | 2,709,900 | 8.5 | 7.6 | -0.9 |
| Texas | 4,100 | 10,899,900 | 10,904,000 | 7.4 | 6.1 | -1.3 |
| Utah | 2,300 | 1,257,800 | 1,260,100 | 5.8 | 5.2 | -0.6 |
| Vermont | -400 | 305,000 | 304,600 | 5.2 | 5.1 | -0.1 |
| Virginia | -5,000 | 3,739,000 | 3,734,000 | 6.1 | 5.5 | -0.6 |
| Washington | -7,900 | 2,893,600 | 2,885,700 | 8.6 | 7.6 | -1 |
| West Virginia | 900 | 746,000 | 746,900 | 7.8 | 7.5 | -0.3 |
| Wisconsin | 1,300 | 2,727,600 | 2,728,900 | 7 | 6.6 | -0.4 |
| Wyoming | -1,700 | 288,200 | 286,500 | 5.6 | 4.9 | -0.7 |
NOTE: December figures are preliminary. Job totals and unemployment rates are seasonally-adjusted.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
