Unemployment rates remained little changed for all states in December 2010 compared to the previous month according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates decreased in 15 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Unemployment rates remained the same in 15 states (including Connecticut) and increased in 20 states, although the increases were statistically significant in only two states.
Comparisons from a year ago point to an easing of unemployment. Overall, 31 states and D.C. had lower unemployment rates in December 2010, than in December 2009.
But Connecticut was not part of that group as our December 2009 rate was 8.9% while the December 2010 rate was 9.0%. For the entire 2010 year, Connecticut’s rate was never higher than 9.2% and never lower than 8.8%.
Nevada continued to lead the states in unemployment, with a 14.5% rate for December, the highest rate since the current record-keeping series began in 1976 and the eighth month in a row that Nevada recorded the highest unemployment rate among the states. California followed, at 12.5%, with Florida at 12.0%. Unemployment in Puerto Rico also remains high, at 15.7% but is down from 17.2% in April 2010.
