By Mike Rowan, 09/10/2009
U.S. and State Unemployment Rates Hit 26 Year High in August
The United States unemployment rate jumped to a 26-year high of 9.7% in August as nonfarm payrolls fell by 216,000, the 20th consecutive monthly decline, the Labor Department estimated Friday. State unemployment rates ranged from 4.2% in North Dakota, to over 15% in the state of Michigan.United States payrolls have dropped by 6.9 million to a total of 131.2 million since the recession began in December 2007, the government data showed. Unemployment has increased by 7.4 million during the recession to stand at 14.9 million.
The 216,000 decline in payrolls was close to market expectations of a 233,000 drop, but the unemployment rate rose higher than the 9.5% level expected. The unemployment rate was 9.4% in July, and has been moving towards the 10% mark as the amount of workers seeking unemployment benefits continues to rise.
State Unemployment Rates Vary Widely by U.S. Region
Individual state unemployment rates are listed below, as a percentage of those without work in the month of August. Keep in mind that these numbers are for unemployment claims, and do not take into consideration the workers in each state that are no longer receiving unemployment benefits.
The individual state unemployment rates in the U.S are August unemployment numbers by state unemployment, unemployment rates, unemployment claims, and filing for unemployment benefits state by state.
