As the unemployment rate declined during December to a 10-year low of 4.1%, it continued to vary greatly amongst the states. At the high end were two states which realized unemployment at or above 6.0%. At the low end, were several states below 3.0%.

Alaska's unemployment rate set the nation's high at 7.3% as it rose from 6.4% early in the year. Unemployment surged nearly twelve percent by the end of the year even as labor force growth cooled. New Mexico's jobless rate also remained elevated at 6.0%. It nevertheless fell from 6.7% early in the year. Unemployment growth fell sharply during the year as labor force growth was moderate. Nevada's unemployment rate also was a high 5.0% as unemployment eased while the labor force surged. Pennsylvania's jobless rate also held high at 4.7%. Unemployment was little changed y/y but the labor force fell.

At the low end of the range in unemployment stood Hawaii at 2.0%. Employment eased 0.5% y/y while the labor force declined modestly. New Hampshire also had low unemployment at 2.6%, but it reflected declines in employment, unemployment and the labor force. Maine's jobless rate remained at its record-low of 3.0% as employment grew a diminished 1.5% y/y against 0.7% y/y growth in the labor force. In Massachusetts, after a run-up to 4.3% early in the year, a fall to a 3.5% jobless rate reflected 1.3% y/y growth in jobs and 1.8% growth in the labor pool.

Amongst other large states, New Jersey's 5.0% rate of unemployment reflected slight declines in both employment & the size of the labor force. Texas unemployment at 3.9% occurred as employment grew 2.4% y/y and the labor force expanded 1.4% y/y. Similarly, North Carolina's 4.5% unemployment reflected 1.4% y/y growth in employment and a 0.6% y/y rise in the labor force. At the low end of the range amongst large states was Wisconsin which experienced 3.0% unemployment as employment rose 2.9% y/y with 1.8% y/y growth in the labor force.

Within large cities, New York City's jobless rate fell to 4.3% from a 2009 high of 10.2%, reflecting 3.1% employment growth this past year, and a 2.5% y/y gain in the labor force. Unemployment in New York state was a slightly higher 4.6%, down from a 2009 high of 8.9%. Unemployment around Chicago at 5.1% was up from its 4.2% low earlier in the year, compared to 4.8% in all of Illinois. The city's low jobless rate reflected employment that was little changed this past year set against a 0.2% y/y decline in the labor force. In California, the jobless rate was reduced to 4.3% compared to 4.5% around Los Angeles. In Washington state, 4.5% unemployment compared to 3.8% around Seattle where a 1.5% y/y gain in employment accompanied a 1.6% rise in the labor force.

State unemployment figures are available in Haver's EMPLRdatabase.