Iowa reports lowest unemployment rate in 1999 March 01, 2000
With an average unemployment rate of 2.5 percent, Iowa reported
the lowest unemployment rate in the nation in 1999, followed by
New Hampshire at 2.7 percent. Other states with unemployment
rates below 3.0 percent included Minnesota and Virginia at 2.8
percent, and Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota with
unemployment rates of 2.9 percent each. Nine of the 17 states
with jobless rates below 3.5 percent were in the Midwest.
Overall, 26 states had unemployment rates below the national
average, while 24 states and the District of Columbia posted
higher rates—the most even distribution in 12 years. These data
are a product of the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program.
To learn more, see State and Regional Unemployment, 1999 Annual
Averages (USDL 00-56). Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.
Department of Labor, The Editor's Desk, Iowa reports lowest
unemployment rate in 1999 on the Internet at
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2000/feb/wk5/art03.htm (visited M