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State Unemployment Rates: July 2009

In the nineteen months between December 2007 and July 2009, the economy shed 6.7 million jobs, the national unemployment rate spiked 4.5 percentage points to 9.4 percent, and the unemployment rate rose in every state and the District of Columbia.  In July, 8 states posted statistically significant over-the-month increases in their jobless rates while 2 states (Minnesota and Vermont) posted statistically significant over-the-month decreases in their jobless rates. Although unemployment rates in the remaining states were essentially unchanged in July, workers across the country continue to experience distressed levels of unemployment. In July, the unemployment rate was 10.0 percent or higher in 15 states and the District of Columbia, and 3 states (Michigan, Rhode Island, and Nevada) had unemployment rates of 12.0 percent or higher.