By PHIL IZZO
Unemployment rates were little changed in most states in September, as a recovery in the labor market remained sluggish across the country.
The Labor Department reported Friday that 23 states and Washington, D.C., experienced decreases in jobless rates, while the rate rose in 11 states and was unchanged in 16.
The Nation's Unemployed
Follow the change in unemployment from the beginning of the recession.
States hardest-hit by the housing bust, such as Florida and California, continue to struggle with double-digit unemployment rates. Nevada remained the state with the highest unemployment rate, at 14.4%, more than a percentage point higher than the 13% recorded in second-place Michigan. In all, 15 states had rates above the 9.6% national figure released earlier this month.
North and South Dakota continued to have the lowest rates in the country, at 3.7% and 4.4%, respectively.
Despite some improvement in jobless rates, 34 states reported a decrease in the number of people employed, possibly as fewer people hunted for jobs. Fourteen of the state declines are regarded as statistically significant. Just New Mexico, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C., posted statistically significant increases in employment from August.
Amid concerns that the labor market stagnated over the summer, 21 states still have higher or equal unemployment rates this September compared with a year ago.
Republicans pointed to the state unemployment figures as evidence that the stimulus package backed by the Obama administration has failed. The data show the number of people employed has dropped in 48 of 50 states since February 2009 when the stimulus was passed. Administration officials have argued that the decline in the number of jobs would have been worse in the absence of stimulus.
Write to Phil Izzo at philip.izzo@wsj.com
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