Jan 22, 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the December 2009 regional and state unemployment rates. The BLS has maintained state unemployment data since January 1976.
Contrary to the national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (officially known as U-3) remaining unchanged from November to December at 10.0%, 43 states and the District of Columbia reported an increase in the December 2009 unemployment rates. Four states experienced a decrease and three states remained unchanged for December.
New York:
NY reported a 0.4% increase in December unemployment to 9.0%. Between August 2009 and October 2009, NY’s unemployment rate remained relatively stable between 8.9% and 9.0%. In November the rate fell to 8.6% and increased back to 9.0% in December.
From December 2008 to December 2009 NY's unemployment rate increased 2.4% to 9.0%
Historical Perspective
Between June 1992 and September 1992, NY’s unemployment rate peaked at 8.9%. Feb/ March 1983 the rate peaked at 9.2%. In the 1970’s NY’s unemployment rate peaked at 10.5% in July 1976. In fact from Jan 1976 to Feb 1977 NY’s unemployment rate remained at 10% or higher with the exception of May 1976 when it momentarily fell to 9.7%.
New Jersey:
After remaining stable at 9.7% for October and November, NJ reported an increase of 0.4% to 10.1% in December.
From December 2008 to December 2009, NJ's unemployment rate increased 3.3% to 10.1%.
Historical Perspective
In the early 1980’s NJ’s unemployment peaked in November 1982 at 9.1%. During the 34 years of data, the highest unemployment rate recorded in NJ was 10.6% in January and February 1977.
Connecticut:
CT reported an increase of 0.7% to 8.9% for December 2009. November reported a decrease of unemployment from 8.8% to 8.2%. Since August 2009 CT’s unemployment rate has bounced between 8.1% and 8.9%.
From December 2008 to December 2009, CT's unemployment rate increased 2.3% to 8.9%.
Historical Perspective
During the recession in the 1990’s and 1980’s, CT’s unemployment peaked at 7.5% between February and May 1992 and 7.3% in January 1983. During the 34 year period, January 1976 was the highest unemployment rate for CT at 10%.
Pennsylvania:
PA reported an increase in unemployment of 0.4% in December 2009 after decreasing in November 0.4% to 8.5%. PA’s unemployment rate has remained between 8.3% and 8.9% since May 2009.
From December 2008 to December 2009 PA's unemployment rate increased 2.5% to 8.9%.
Historical Perspective
Between April and September 1992, PA’s unemployment rate peaked at 7.8%. During the 34 year span of unemployment data, the highest rate reached was 12.9% in Feb/ March 1983.
The data of these four states points out that each state has an economic story to tell. Not all states at this time have reached or surpassed their 34 year highs of unemployment. When examining unemployment across the country, each state is situated at various points of their respective unemployment rate history (based on the seasonally adjusted U-3 definition of unemployment).
For a greater discussion of the various definitions of the unemployment rate, read Redefining the unemployment rate.
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