Jobless Rate Improved in Most States in November

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Unemployment rates eased in most states in November, although many continued to shed jobs, the Labor Department said Friday.

Eight states registered increases in unemployment rates over the month, while 36 states and the District of Columbia reported decreases, and the rest were unchanged.

Still, over the year, jobless rates increased in all 50 states and the nation’s capital.

Michigan continued to have the highest unemployment rate in the country, although it edged down to 14.7 percent in November, from 15.1 percent in October. Michigan’s jobless rate has been dropping since hitting a high of 15.3 percent in September.

The number of jobs increased in 19 states and dropped in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The largest increase was in Texas, which gained 17,300 jobs, and the biggest drop was in Florida, which lost 16,700 jobs.

According to the Florida labor department, the state has been losing jobs since August 2007, with health care the only growth sector for much of 2009. Most of Florida’s job loss has been in construction, trades, transportation, utilities and professional services.

Because unemployment affects states on two levels — through dropping tax revenue and increased demands for assistance — states measure recessions and recoveries by changes in their work forces.

Michigan’s unemployment rate is now at its lowest level since May. That is encouraging for a state that has suffered the worst unemployment during the recession that started in 2007, mostly because of the downturn in the automobile industry.

“The Michigan jobless rate remains high but has stabilized,” said Rick Waclawek, director of information at Michigan’s labor department. “However, employment continues to trend downward, as payroll jobs have fallen in nine of the first 11 months of 2009.”

The economic storms hitting workers nationally may be abating. A report earlier this month showed that the national unemployment rate eased to 10 percent, from 10.2 percent in October, and the country lost 11,000 jobs last month, many fewer than expected.