ABJ - Aug 24 - Regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in July, as 28 states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate increases, while nine states recorded rate decreases, and 13 states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

According to the report, 37 states posted unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while seven states and the District of Columbia reported increases, and six states had no change. The national jobless rate was little changed at 9.1 per cent, but was 0.4 percentage point lower than a year earlier.

In July, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 31 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in 19 states.

The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred in New York (+29,400). Hawaii experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase in employment (+1.1 per cent).

The largest over-the-month decrease in employment occurred in Illinois (-24,900). Minnesota held the largest over-the-month percentage decline in employment (-0.7 per cent).

Nevada continued to register the highest unemployment rate, at 12.9 per cent in July. California recorded the next highest rate, at 12 per cent. North Dakota reported the lowest jobless rate, at 3.3 per cent.

In total, 25 states posted jobless rates significantly lower than the U.S. national figure of 9.1 per cent, while eight states and the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 17 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.