State Employment and Unemployment News Release – July 2022

STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT — JULY 2022

Unemployment rates were lower in July in 14 states and the District of Columbia, higher in 3 states, and stable in 33 states, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. All 50 states and the District had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. The national unemployment rate edged down to 3.5 percent over the month and was 1.9 percentage points lower than in July 2021.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 20 states, decreased in 2 states, and was essentially unchanged in 28 states and the District of Columbia in July 2022. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 43 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 7 states.

This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information about the concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.

Unemployment

Minnesota had the lowest jobless rate in July, 1.8 percent. The next lowest rates were in Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Utah, 2.0 percent each. The rates in the following seven states set new series lows (all state series begin in 1976): Alaska (4.5 percent), California (3.9 percent), Georgia (2.8 percent), Louisiana (3.6 percent), Mississippi (3.6 percent), Missouri (2.5 percent), and Washington (3.7 percent). The District of Columbia had the highest unemployment rate, 5.2 percent, followed by Alaska and New Mexico, 4.5 percent each. In total, 17 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.5 percent, 10 states and the District had higher rates, and 23 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 1.)

In July, 14 states and the District of Columbia had over-the-month unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in New Mexico (-0.4 percentage point). Three states had unemployment rate increases: Indiana (+0.2 percentage point) and Montana and Nebraska (+0.1 point each). Thirty-three states had jobless rates that were not notably different from those of a month earlier, though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table B.)

The largest unemployment rate decreases from July 2021 occurred in California (-3.5 percentage points) and Rhode Island (-3.3 points). The smallest over-the-year jobless rate decline occurred in Nebraska (-0.5 percentage point). (See table C.)

Nonfarm Payroll Employment

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 20 states, decreased in 2 states, and was essentially unchanged in 28 states and the District of Columbia in July 2022. The largest job gains occurred in California (+84,800), Florida (+73,800), and Texas (+72,800). The largest percentage increase occurred in Hawaii (+1.3 percent), followed by Arkansas and Missouri (+0.9 percent each). Employment decreased in Tennessee (-12,400, or -0.4 percent) and Kentucky (-11,400, or -0.6 percent). (See tables D and 3.)

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 43 states and the District of Columbia and was essentially unchanged in 7 states. The largest job increases occurred in California (+740,000), Texas (+736,700), and Florida (+437,800). The largest percentage increases occurred in Texas (+5.8 percent), Nevada (+5.7 percent), and Florida (+4.9 percent). (See table E.)

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The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for July is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The State Employment and Unemployment news release for August is scheduled to be released on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).