Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) released the December 2011 edition of its state-by-state snapshots which detail each individual state’s economic progress for the previous month.  The report shows broad private-sector job creation in November, with 3 of every 5 states experiencing gains. Nationally, 140,000 private-sector positions were added in November, after a gain of 117,000 private-sector jobs in October. 

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the JEC said, “Over the last year, the economy has made progress recovering from the Great Recession, but the progress isn’t happening fast enough for millions of Americans who remain unemployed. Congress must continue to provide assistance to working families hit hard by the recession, help businesses trying to expand, and create the best environment for job creation. Washington needs to focus on policies that boost economic activity and increase employment.”

Report highlights include:

• The overwhelming majority of states (86 percent) experienced a decline in their unemployment rate during November, corresponding to the previously announced drop in the national unemployment rate, from 9.0 to 8.6 percent.
• Thirty states and the District of Columbia added private-sector jobs in November. From November 2010 - November 2011, North Dakota (6.1 percent), Texas (3.4 percent) and Oklahoma (3.4 percent) had the largest percentage gains in private-sector employment.
• Forty-three states and the District of Columbia saw their unemployment rates decline in November, with thirty states and the District of Columbia recorded statistically significant decreases.  The national unemployment rate during the month was 8.6 percent, down from 9.8 percent a year earlier.
• Thirty states and the District of Columbia added jobs in the professional and business services sector in November. In the past year, 44 states and the District of Columbia have added professional and business services jobs. In total, more than half a million jobs in the professional and business services sector have been added in the past 12 months.
• Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia added jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector during November. In the past 12 months, 35 states and the District of Columbia have added leisure and hospitality jobs. During this period, 253,000 leisure and hospitality jobs have been added.

Click here to view each states' individual report.