The United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics released the Regional and State Unemployment Summary in February 2014 which indicates that national unemployment rates are down 0.7 percentage point to 7.4 percent. The national decrease in unemployment rates demonstrates a small decrease, however, the report reflects significant decreases in unemployment rates in 43 states and the District of Columbia.




While the overall news is positive and reflects continued economic growth across the United States, the western region continues to struggle. Western states posted an 8 percent unemployment rate, 0.6 percent higher than the United States average.

The five states with the highest rates of unemployment are not limited to the Western region. Nevada continues to have the highest unemployment rates in the country at 9.8 percent. Rhode Island and Illinois follow closely with rates of 9.5 percent and 9.2 percent respectively. At 8.9 percent, California is one of the five states with the highest rate of unemployment. Michigan rounds out the top five with 8.8 percent.

Although employment rates continue to be high in several states, Vermont and 4 Great Plains states posted the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Vermont and Utah have an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent. Nebraska and South Dakota have unemployment rates of 3.9 percent and 3.8 percent respectively. North Dakota has the lowest reported unemployment rate of 2.9 percent, which is 4.5 percentage points lower than the national average.

Several states saw significant decreases in unemployment rates from 2012 to 2013. The top five states with the highest decrease in unemployment included Nevada with a decrease of 1.7 percent and Florida at 1.6 percent. California, South Carolina and North Carolina were just behind at 1.5 percent, 1.4 percent and 1.2 percent respectively.

Even though the continued high unemployment rates in a number of states is grim news, both California and Nevada have seen some relief from increasing unemployment rates and economic woes. Nevada, with the highest unemployment rates in the country, saw a 1.7 percent decrease in unemployment from 2012. California also saw relief with a 1.5 percent decrease in unemployment rates in the preceding twelve months.