State Employment and Unemployment Report for February 2021

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released the February 2021 State Employment and Unemployment report. This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are modeled based largely on a survey of households. According to the BLS, unemployment rates were lower in February in 23 states and D.C., higher in 4 states, and stable in 23 states. Forty-five states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier and five states had little or no change. The national unemployment rate, 6.2%, was little changed over the month, but was 2.7 percentage points higher than in February 2020. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 36 states and the District of Columbia in February 2021. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 48 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 2 states. Hawaii at 9.2% and New York at 8.9% had the highest unemployment rate, while South Dakota at 2.9% and Utah at 3.0% had the lowest. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 11 states, decreased in 3 states, and was essentially unchanged in 36 states and the District of Columbia in February 2021. The largest job gains occurred in California, Michigan, and Washington. Employment decreased in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.