Oregon Posts Fourth-Largest Unemployment Rate Drop in 2011

This week the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on annual average unemployment rates for all states and the District of Columbia in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, rates declined in 48 states, but rose in Arkansas, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia.

In 2011, 30 states posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in Michigan (-2.4 percentage points). Oregon was among only four additional states that experienced decreases greater than 1.0 percentage point over the year: Ohio (-1.4 points); Utah (-1.3 points); Oregon (-1.2 points); and Indiana (-1.1 points). The BLS news release reports that the remaining 20 states and the District of Columbia had annual average unemployment rates for 2011 that were not appreciably different from those of the previous year.

The BLS found that eight states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more in 2011. Nevada (13.5%) posted the highest annual unemployment rate in 2011, followed by California (11.7%). North Dakota (3.5%) registered the lowest jobless rate among states for the third year in a row, followed by Nebraska (4.4%).

You can find more details in the full news release, or get unemployment data for your local area at QualityInfo!