WASHINGTON - Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Ranking Democrat Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that new economic data from all 50 states show that 38 states and the District of Columbia gained private sector jobs in May, while 48 states gained private sector jobs over the past 12 months.
The JEC’s monthly State Economic Snapshots also found that average hourly earnings, adjusted for inflation, increased in 44 states over the past year, while gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 48 states and the District of Columbia in 2014.
“The economy continues to move in the right direction,” Maloney said. “We have come a long way since the dark days of the Great Recession but some families have been left behind and we must do everything possible to make sure the recovery reaches all Americans. Investment is the key - in transportation infrastructure, education, research. Investment helps create jobs now and helps lay the foundation for an even stronger economy in the future.”
Following are some key findings of the State Economic Snapshots:
- The largest private-sector gains in May came in California (55,700), New York (47,400), Texas (25,700), Michigan (24,300) and Pennsylvania (16,900).
- On a percentage basis, the largest gains were in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Nevada, the District of Columbia and Michigan.
- Nebraksa had the lowest unemplpoyment rate (2.6 percent) in May, followed by North Dakota (3.1 percent), Utah (3.5 percent), Vermonth (3.6 percent) and Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, South Dakota (3.8 percent each)
- The highest unemployment rates in May were in the District of Columbia (7.3 percent), West Virginia (7.2 percent), Nevada (7.0 percent), Alaska and South Carolina (6.8 percent each). The national unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in May, down from 6.3 percent a year ago.
- The largest hourly earnings gains were posted in Vermont (5.9 percent), Washington (4.4 percent), South Dakota (4.2 percent), Kentucky and Iowa (4.1 percenteach). Earnings declined in six states, and one state had no change.
Click here for a summary of the report or here for a list of state reports.
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