WASHINGTON – Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, said Thursday a new report shows that unemployment fell in 37 states and the District of Columbia in September while private-sector jobs increased in 20 states and D.C. Over the past year, the nation gained a total of 2.6 million private-sector jobs and the unemployment rate has fallen from 5.9 percent to 5.1 percent.
The Democratic analysis released each month, provides snapshots of the economic recovery in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. September data show that 23 states now have unemployment rates below 5.0 percent.
“The evidence is clear,” Maloney said. “President Obama’s policies have lifted this country out of a very dark hour and delivered us into the sunlight of a real recovery and strengthening economy. Combined with the jobless claim numbers out today, which are the lowest since 1973, the economy is irrefutably on the right track.”
All but two states have gained private-sector jobs since President Obama took office and eight states have experienced private-sector job gains of 10 percent or greater during this time.
The largest declines in the unemployment rate in September occurred in Missouri, Rhode Island, South Carolina and West Virginia. The rate declined by 0.3 percentage point in each state. The rate declined by 0.2 percentage point in 16 other states, and remained unchanged in seven states.
Over the course of the past year, unemployment declined in 41 states and the District of Columbia. The largest declines occurred in Rhode Island, Michigan, California, Indiana, Maine and Mississippi.
The largest private-sector job gains in September occurred in Texas, New York, Florida, Indiana and North Carolina. Delaware, South Carolina, Kansas, Alaska, Alabama, Texas and Indiana gained the most jobs on a percentage basis.
Over the past 12 months, 47 states and the District of Columbia gained private-sector jobs, with California, Florida, Texas, New York and North Carolina leading the way. On a percentage basis, states gaining the most jobs in the past year were Utah, South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina, Washington and Nevada.
The lowest unemployment rate in September occurred in North Dakota, followed by Nebraska, Hawaii, New Hampshire and South Dakota. West Virginia experienced the highest unemployment rate in September, followed by New Mexico, Nevada, the District of Columbia and Alaska.
Read the full report here
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