October Spotlight Comparative Looks at Unemployment Due to differing economies and labor force conditions across various regions of the country, unemploy- ment rates vary greatly from state to state. In October 2017, state jobless rates ranged from a low of 2.2 percent in Hawaii to a high of 7.2 percent in Alaska. The unemployment rate in Arkansas in October increased to 3.6 percent, a ranking of 16 out of 51 states. By looking at the map below, it becomes ap- parent that trends exist among states that are located within the same region. While there are some ex- ceptions, western states tend to have higher jobless rates than states located in the Midwest. Similarly, states located in the northeast generally experience lower unemployment rates than states located in the southeast. These regional trends occur because states often experience economic similarities based on shared industries, work forces, and climates. Unemployment Rates, Ranked by State (Seasonally Adjusted) October 2017 Rank State Rate Rank Rate Rank Rate 1 Hawaii 2.2 16 Florida 3.6 33 Michigan 4.5 North Dakota 16 Kansas Washington 2 2.5 3.6 33 4.5 Colorado 16 Virginia Pennsylvania 3 2.7 3.6 37 4.7 3 Nebraska 2.7 21 Massachusetts 3.7 38 Delaware 4.8 3 New Hampshire 2.7 22 Maryland 3.8 38 Louisiana 4.8 6 Idaho 2.9 23 Indiana 3.9 38 New York 4.8 6 Vermont 2.9 23 Montana 3.9 41 California 4.9 8 Iowa 3.0 23 South Carolina 3.9 41 Illinois 4.9 8 Tennessee 3.0 23 Texas 3.9 41 Mississippi 4.9 10 Minnesota 3.3 27 North Carolina 4.1 41 New Jersey 4.9 10 Utah 3.3 28 Rhode Island 4.2 45 Kentucky 5.0 12 Wisconsin 3.4 28 Wyoming 4.2 45 Nevada 5.0 13 Maine 3.5 30 Georgia 4.3 47 Ohio 5.1 13 Missouri 3.5 30 Oregon 4.3 47 West Virginia 5.1 13 South Dakota 3.5 32 Oklahoma 4.4 49 New Mexico 6.1 16 Alabama 3.6 33 Arizona 4.5 50 District of Columbia 6.6 Arkansas 33 Connecticut Alaska 16 3.6 4.5 51 7.2 Nebraska North Dakota Iowa Minnesota South Maine Oregon Vermont New Dakota Hampshire New M YorkMassachusetts Illinois Indiana Jersey Nevada West Vir aMaryland Utah Arkansas Virginia California Kentucky New North Mexico Tennessee Carolina Unemployment Rates
October Spotlight Comparative Looks at Unemployment Due to differing economies and labor force conditions across various regions of the country, unemploy- ment rates vary greatly from state to state. In October 2017, state jobless rates ranged from a low of 2.2 percent in Hawaii to a high of 7.2 percent in Alaska. The unemployment rate in Arkansas in October increased to 3.6 percent, a ranking of 16 out of 51 states. By looking at the map below, it becomes ap- parent that trends exist among states that are located within the same region. While there are some ex- ceptions, western states tend to have higher jobless rates than states located in the Midwest. Similarly, states located in the northeast generally experience lower unemployment rates than states located in the southeast. These regional trends occur because states often experience economic similarities based on shared industries, work forces, and climates. Unemployment Rates, Ranked by State (Seasonally Adjusted) October 2017 Rank 1 State Hawaii Rate 2.2 Rank 16 Florida Rate 3.6 Rank 33 Michigan Rate 4.5 2 North Dakota 2.5 16 Kansas 3.6 33 Washington 4.5 3 Colorado 2.7 16 Virginia 3.6 37 Pennsylvania 4.7 3 Nebraska 2.7 21 Massachusetts 3.7 38 Delaware 4.8 3 New Hampshire 2.7 22 Maryland 3.8 38 Louisiana 4.8 6 Idaho 2.9 23 Indiana 3.9 38 New York 4.8 6 Vermont 2.9 23 Montana 3.9 41 California 4.9 8 Iowa 3.0 23 South Carolina 3.9 41 Illinois 4.9 8 Tennessee 3.0 23 Texas 3.9 41 Mississippi 4.9 10 Minnesota 3.3 27 North Carolina 4.1 41 New Jersey 4.9 10 Utah 3.3 28 Rhode Island 4.2 45 Kentucky 5.0 12 Wisconsin 3.4 28 Wyoming 4.2 45 Nevada 5.0 13 Maine 3.5 30 Georgia 4.3 47 Ohio 5.1 13 Missouri 3.5 30 Oregon 4.3 47 West Virginia 5.1 13 South Dakota 3.5 32 Oklahoma 4.4 49 New Mexico 6.1 16 Alabama 3.6 33 Arizona 4.5 50 District of Columbia 6.6 16 Arkansas 3.6 33 Connecticut 4.5 51 Alaska 7.2 Oregon North Dakota South Dakota Nebraska Minnesota Iowa Maine Vermont New Hampshire New YorkMassachusetts Illinois Indiana Jersey Nevada Utah West Vir aMaryland California New Mexico Arkansas Kentucky Tennessee Virginia North Carolina Unemployment Rates M
October%202017%20LM%20Report.docx