The jobless rates in most states remained mostly unchanged from September. Fourteen states, though, recorded statistically significant drops in the unemployment rate from the previous month, led by a 0.5 percentage-point decline in South Carolina. Alaska and Wisconsin also saw their jobless rates decline 0.4 percent for the month.
No states reported a statistically significant uptick in unemployment.
The total U.S. labor force, which includes those looking for jobs, rose by 578,000 in October, which was enough to slightly push up the labor force participation rate to 63.8 percent.
In terms of total employment, which is measured using a different survey of employers, 35 states and the District of Columbia reported gains. California (+45,800), Texas (+36,600) and Georgia (+16,100) added the most jobs for the month.
The steepest estimated job losses occurred in Michigan (-16,500) and New Jersey (-11,700), according to the Labor Department.
State Employment Totals and Unemployment Rates for October:
| State | October Nonfarm Employment | Sept. Nonfarm Employment | Monthly Change | 10/2011 Jobless Rate | 09/2012 Jobless Rate | 10/2012 Jobless Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,881,500 | 1,876,500 | 5,000 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Alaska | 328,000 | 329,700 | -1,700 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.1 |
| Arizona | 2,463,900 | 2,467,200 | -3,300 | 9.2 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Arkansas | 1,170,000 | 1,165,600 | 4,400 | 8 | 7.1 | 7.2 |
| California | 14,417,200 | 14,371,400 | 45,800 | 11.5 | 10.2 | 10.1 |
| Colorado | 2,310,100 | 2,301,500 | 8,600 | 8.1 | 8 | 7.9 |
| Connecticut | 1,624,900 | 1,623,700 | 1,200 | 8.5 | 8.9 | 9 |
| Delaware | 416,200 | 416,000 | 200 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 6.8 |
| District of Columbia | 739,000 | 737,500 | 1,500 | 10.3 | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| Florida | 7,371,500 | 7,356,800 | 14,700 | 10.2 | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| Georgia | 3,954,400 | 3,938,300 | 16,100 | 9.7 | 9 | 8.7 |
| Hawaii | 607,700 | 605,500 | 2,200 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 5.5 |
| Idaho | 622,200 | 619,300 | 2,900 | 8.6 | 7.1 | 7 |
| Illinois | 5,712,600 | 5,707,800 | 4,800 | 10 | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Indiana | 2,905,000 | 2,900,000 | 5,000 | 9.1 | 8.2 | 8 |
| Iowa | 1,496,300 | 1,490,300 | 6,000 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Kansas | 1,344,800 | 1,348,000 | -3,200 | 6.6 | 5.9 | 5.7 |
| Kentucky | 1,833,800 | 1,840,400 | -6,600 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Louisiana | 1,947,700 | 1,935,500 | 12,200 | 7.1 | 7 | 6.6 |
| Maine | 595,300 | 595,600 | -300 | 7.3 | 7.6 | 7.4 |
| Maryland | 2,595,000 | 2,581,000 | 14,000 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.7 |
| Massachusetts | 3,255,100 | 3,247,200 | 7,900 | 7.1 | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Michigan | 3,972,700 | 3,989,200 | -16,500 | 9.9 | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Minnesota | 2,710,500 | 2,718,600 | -8,100 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| Mississippi | 1,089,300 | 1,085,000 | 4,300 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 8.9 |
| Missouri | 2,670,900 | 2,657,900 | 13,000 | 8.3 | 6.9 | 6.9 |
| Montana | 436,400 | 433,600 | 2,800 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 6 |
| Nebraska | 958,400 | 959,100 | -700 | 4.4 | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Nevada | 1,136,100 | 1,133,900 | 2,200 | 13.4 | 11.8 | 11.5 |
| New Hampshire | 626,800 | 625,800 | 1,000 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.7 |
| New Jersey | 3,892,200 | 3,903,900 | -11,700 | 9.3 | 9.8 | 9.7 |
| New Mexico | 798,800 | 795,800 | 3,000 | 7.2 | 6.4 | 6.3 |
| New York | 8,831,600 | 8,822,200 | 9,400 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| North Carolina | 3,964,800 | 3,956,800 | 8,000 | 10.6 | 9.6 | 9.3 |
| North Dakota | 422,000 | 421,100 | 900 | 3.5 | 3 | 3.1 |
| Ohio | 5,191,900 | 5,178,000 | 13,900 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 6.9 |
| Oklahoma | 1,603,800 | 1,602,500 | 1,300 | 6.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Oregon | 1,636,300 | 1,638,700 | -2,400 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,752,200 | 5,744,700 | 7,500 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Rhode Island | 457,000 | 459,500 | -2,500 | 11.2 | 10.5 | 10.4 |
| South Carolina | 1,869,000 | 1,861,700 | 7,300 | 10 | 9.1 | 8.6 |
| South Dakota | 408,900 | 406,900 | 2,000 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Tennessee | 2,694,100 | 2,686,600 | 7,500 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| Texas | 10,883,200 | 10,846,600 | 36,600 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 6.6 |
| Utah | 1,248,100 | 1,239,400 | 8,700 | 6.2 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
| Vermont | 302,000 | 303,000 | -1,000 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 |
| Virginia | 3,728,900 | 3,729,500 | -600 | 6.2 | 5.9 | 5.7 |
| Washington | 2,888,600 | 2,881,900 | 6,700 | 8.9 | 8.5 | 8.2 |
| West Virginia | 747,600 | 747,400 | 200 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Wisconsin | 2,720,700 | 2,728,200 | -7,500 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 6.9 |
| Wyoming | 287,500 | 288,300 | -800 | 5.8 | 5.4 | 5.2 |
NOTE: October figures are preliminary. Job totals and unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
