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
