Where It's Worse Than 8.5

Today, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that unemployment rates in more than a dozen states are significantly higher than the national figure of 8.5 percent.

The states feeling the most pain are:

1. Michigan, 12.6 percent
2. Oregon, 12.1 percent
3. South Carolina, 11.4 percent
4. California, 11.2 percent
5. North Carolina, 10.8 percent

BONUS: Indiana Business Bulletin graphs compare individual state unemployment rates with the national average.

State unemployment rates rose in 46 states in March. Which ones fared better or worse over the month?

 

Oregon, where businesses shed 14,000 jobs last month, reported the largest percentage change in unemployment rate, jumping from 10.7 percent in February to 12.1 percent in March.

California reported the most total job losses in March with 62,100. The Golden State also has the largest total over-the-year job losses, totaling 637,400 since March 2008.

States net positive for jobs in March: Mississippi and North Dakota, albeit not by much. Each reported gains of 300 jobs.

North Dakota is also among the five states reporting over-the-year percentage increases in employment: District of Columbia (+0.8 percent), Alaska (+0.7 percent), North Dakota (+0.3 percent), and Louisiana and Wyoming (+0.2 percent each).