Where Jobless Rates Declined
There’s growing impatience about subpar job creation as well as stubbornly high unemployment, even as the economy recovers. After months of improvement, the national jobless rate has moved sideways recently, stuck around 9 percent.
On a state level, the picture is mixed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 42 states and the District of Columbia reported jobless rate decreases between May 2010 and April 2011. Only five states registered increases, while there were three unchanged.
More than a few, however, have posted sizable declines in their jobless rates, which is good news for workers and employers.
Here are the ten biggest annual declines and the states in which they took place. Click ahead to see if your state makes the cut.
By Jennifer Leigh Parker, Special for CNBC.com
Posted 27 June 2011
10. Wyoming (Tie)
April 2011 6%
May 2010 7.1%
Record High Jan 1987 9.1%
Record Low April 1979 2.3%
10. North Carolina (Tie)
April 2011 9.7%
May 2010 10.8%
Record High Feb 2010 11.4%
Record Low March 1999 3.1%
9. New Hampshire (Tie)
April 2011 4.9%
May 2010 6.1%
Record High Sept 1992 7.6%
Record Low May 1987 2.1%
9. Wisconsin (Tie)
April 2011 7.3%
May 2010 8.5%
Record High Jan 1983 11.5%
Record Low Feb 2000 3%
9. Pennsylvania (Tie)
April 2011 7.5%
May 2010 8.7%
Record High March 1983 12.9%
Record Low March 2000 4%
8. Oregon
April 2011 9.6%
May 2010 10.9%
Record High Jan 1983 12.1%
Record Low Feb 1995 4.7%
7. South Carolina
April 2011 9.8%
May 2010 11.2%
Record High Dec 2009 11.8%
Record Low Mar 1998 3.2%
6. Oklahoma
April 2011 5.6%
May 2010 7.1%
Record High June 1983 9.2%
Record Low Dec 2000 2.8%
5. Ohio
Apr 2011 8.6%
May 2010 10.2%
Record High Jan 1983 13.9%
Record Low Jan 2001 3.8%
4. Illinois
April 2011 8.7%
May 2010 10.5%
Record High Feb 1983 12.9%
Record Low Feb 1999 4.2%
#3 Indiana
April 2011 8.2%
May 2010 10.4%
Record High Jan 1983 12.7%
Record Low April 1999 2.6%
2. Nevada
April 2011 12.5%
May 2010 14.9%
Record High Dec 2010 14.9%
Record Low April 2000 3.8%
1. Michigan
April 2011 10.2%
May 2010 12.8%
Record High Dec 1982 16.8%
Record Low March 2000 3.3%