Office of Publications & Special Studies · Wednesday, March 07, 2012 (08:30 AM) Employment Situation Friday, March 09, 2012 (08:30 AM) Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey Tuesday,

BLS Update

http://www.bls.gov/opub/update.htm[2012/03/03 17:56:18]

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Office of Publications & Special Studies FONT SIZE: PRINT: BLS UpdateThis page contains links to selected publications recently published onthe BLS website.A list of all recent publications can be found on What's New from BLS.

Week of February 27 – March 2, 2012News Releases

Regional and State Unemployment — 2011 Annual Averages.USDL-12-0371 (HTML) (PDF)

PeriodicalsMonthly Labor Review Online: February 2012

Commissioner's CornerInteractive graphics in web publications

The Editor's DeskConsumer Price Index for the elderlyState employment-population ratios in 2011Employer-provided health care benefitsEmployment projections by occupational group, 2010–2020Work experience during 2010

Other PublicationsCompensation and Working Conditions Online: Paid Sick Leave:Prevalence, Provision, and Usage among Full-Time Workers inPrivate Industry

UPCOMING NEWS RELEASES

Productivity and CostsWednesday, March 07, 2012 (08:30 AM)

Employment SituationFriday, March 09, 2012 (08:30 AM)

Job Openings and Labor TurnoverSurveyTuesday, March 13, 2012 (10:00 AM)

Regional and State Employment andUnemployment (Monthly)Tuesday, March 13, 2012 (10:00 AM)

U.S. Import and Export Price IndexesWednesday, March 14, 2012 (08:30 AM)

Employer Costs for EmployeeCompensationWednesday, March 14, 2012 (10:00 AM)

Producer Price IndexThursday, March 15, 2012 (08:30 AM)

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BLS Update

http://www.bls.gov/opub/update.htm[2012/03/03 17:56:18]

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What's New from BLS

http://www.bls.gov/bls/whatsnew.htm[2012/03/03 17:56:49]



BLS Information FONT SIZE: PRINT: What's New from BLS

The Latest Economic News ReleasesRegional and State Unemployment (Annual) 02/29/2012Mass Layoffs (Monthly) 02/23/2012Volunteering in the United States 02/22/2012

The Editor's DeskConsumer Price Index for the elderlyMarch 2, 2012The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates official price indexes for two population groups. One is theConsumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which represents the spending habits ofabout 88 percent of the population of the United States. The other is the CPI for Urban Wage Earnersand Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a subset of the CPI-U population, which represents about 29 percent ofthe U.S. population. BLS also calculates an experimental CPI for the elderly, or CPI-E, by usinghouseholds whose reference person or spouse is 62 years of age or older. In 2009–2010,approximately 24 percent of all consumer units met the CPI-E's definition of having a reference personor spouse 62 years of age or older. Full Text »

What's New ArchivesYou can sign up to receive links to selected BLS publications in a weekly e-mail on the BLS Updatepage.

Paid Sick Leave: Prevalence, Provision, and Usage among Full-Time Workers in Private Industry02/29/2012Monthly Labor Review: February 2012 Issue -- includes "On guard against workplace hazards"02/29/2012Regional and State Employment and Unemployment, Annual 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 02/29/2012Adjustments to Household Survey Population Estimates in January 2012 02/24/2012Mass Layoffs, January 2012 (PDF) (HTML) 02/23/2012Volunteering in the United States, 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 02/22/2012Real Earnings in January 2012 (PDF) (HTML) 02/17/2012Consumer Price Indexes: January 2012 (PDF) (HTML) 02/17/2012Focus on Prices and Spending: Current Price Topics: The Experimental Consumer Price Index forOlder Americans (CPI-E) (PDF) (HTML) 02/16/2012Producer Price Indexes: January 2012 (PDF) (HTML) 02/16/2012Experimental Size Class Employment, Hours, and Earnings Series from the Current EmploymentStatistics Survey 02/14/2012The 2013 President's Budget for the Bureau of Labor Statistics 02/14/2012U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, January 2012 (PDF) (HTML) 02/14/2012Focus on Prices and Spending: The 2012 PPI Weight Update: How and why does BLS update

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What's New from BLS


revenue weights? (PDF) (HTML) 02/10/2012Extended Mass Layoffs in the Fourth Quarter of 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 02/10/2012Spotlight on Statistics: The Recession of 2007–2009 02/09/2012America's Youth at 24: School Enrollment, Training, and Work Activity (PDF) (HTML) 02/09/2012Major Work Stoppages in 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 02/08/2012Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 02/07/2012The Employment Situation, January 2012 (PDF) (HTML) 02/03/2012Monthly Labor Review: January 2012 Issue -- includes "Overview of projections to 2020"02/02/2012Occupational Outlook Quarterly: Winter 2011-12 Issue 02/02/2012Productivity and Costs (P), Fourth Quarter 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 02/02/2012Quarterly Data Series on Business Employment Dynamics (PDF) (HTML) 02/01/2012Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment: December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 02/01/2012Employment Projections: 2010-2020 (PDF) (HTML) 02/01/2012Employment Cost Index: Fourth Quarter 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/31/2012Alternative Measures of Labor Underutilization for States, 2011 Annual Averages 01/30/2012Workplace Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities to Women of Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity (PDF)(HTML) 01/30/2012Tracking Employment-Based Health Benefits in Changing Times 01/30/2012Union Members in 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/27/2012Mass Layoffs, December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/25/2012Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers: Fourth Quarter 2011 (PDF) (HTML)01/24/2012Regional and State Employment and Unemployment, December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/24/2012Real Earnings in December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/19/2012Consumer Price Index: December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/19/2012Producer Price Indexes: December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/18/2012U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/13/2012Program Perspectives: Health Benefit Costs by Wage Category (PDF) 01/01/2012Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/10/2012County Employment and Wages: Second Quarter 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/10/2012The Employment Situation, December 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/06/2012Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment: November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 01/04/2012Focus on Prices and Spending: Consumer Spending in 2010 (PDF) (HTML) 12/30/2011Women in the Labor Force: A Databook (2011 Edition) 12/23/2011Mass Layoffs, November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/22/2011International Comparisons of Hourly Compensation Costs in Manufacturing, 2010 (PDF) (HTML)12/21/2011Regional and State Employment and Unemployment, November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/20/2011Women in the Labor Force: A Databook (2011 Edition) 12/16/2011National Longitudinal Survey (NLS) News—Incarcerated Respondents in the NLSY (PDF)12/16/2011Real Earnings in November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/16/2011Consumer Price Index: November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/16/2011Producer Price Indexes: November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/15/2011U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes, November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/14/2011Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, October 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/13/2011Assaults and Violent Acts in the Private Retail Trade Sector, 2003–2008 12/12/2011Work Experience of the Population in 2010 (PDF) (HTML) 12/08/2011Employer Costs for Employee Compensation: September 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/07/2011Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment: October 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/06/2011The Employment Situation, November 2011 (PDF) (HTML) 12/02/2011

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Regional and State Unemployment (Annual) News Release

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/srgune_02292012.htm[2012/03/03 17:57:25]



Economic News Release FONT SIZE: PRINT: LAU

Regional and State Unemployment (Annual) News ReleaseFor release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, February 29, 2012 USDL-12-0371

Technical information: (202) 691-6392 * [email protected] * www.bls.gov/lauMedia contact: (202) 691-5902 * [email protected]

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT -- 2011 ANNUAL AVERAGES

In 2011, annual average unemployment rates declined in 48 states and rose in 2 statesand the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.Employment-population ratios decreased in 24 states and the District of Columbia,increased in 19 states, and were unchanged in 7 states. The U.S. jobless rate in2011 was 8.9 percent, down 0.7 percentage point from the prior year. The nationalemployment-population ratio continued to trend down to 58.4 percent in 2011.

Regional Unemployment

All four regions posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2011. The Midwest experienced the greatest decline (-1.1 percentage points), followed by the West (-0.6 point) and the Northeast and South (-0.5 point each). The West, at 10.4 percent, registered the only jobless rate significantly higher than that of the U.S. in 2011. The Northeast and Midwest, at 8.2 and 8.4 percent, respectively, both had rates significantly below the national figure. (See table 1.)

Eight of the 9 geographic divisions reported statistically significant over-the-year unemployment rate changes in 2011, all of which were decreases. The largest of these occurred in the East North Central (-1.3 percentage points) and New England (-0.8 point). For the fourth year in a row, the Pacific recorded the highest unemployment rate, 11.0 percent in 2011. The next highest rates were in the East South Central and South Atlantic, 9.4 and 9.3 percent, respectively. The rates of thesethree divisions were significantly above the U.S. average. The West North Centraldivision again posted the lowest jobless rate, 6.6 percent. Three otherdivisions--the Middle Atlantic, New England, and West South Central--also had rates significantly below the national figure.

State Unemployment

In 2011, 30 states posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in Michigan (-2.4 percentage points). Four additional states experienced decreases greater than 1.0 percentage point: Ohio (-1.4 points), Utah (-1.3 points), Oregon (-1.2 points), and Indiana (-1.1 points). The remaining 20 states and the District of Columbia reported annual average unemployment rates for2011 that were not appreciably different from those of the previous year, even though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table A.)

Eight states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more in 2011. Nevada again posted the highest unemployment rate, 13.5 percent, followed by California, 11.7 percent. North Dakota registered the lowest jobless rate among states for the third year in a row, 3.5 percent, followed by Nebraska, 4.4 percent. Overall, 28 states had unemployment rates that were significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 8.9 percent, while 10 states and the District of Columbia recorded rates significantly above it. (See table B.)

Regional Employment-Population Ratios


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In 2011, the West was the only region to register a statistically significant change (-0.4 percentage point) in its employment-population ratio--the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over with a job. The Midwest continued to report the highest ratio, 60.4 percent, while the South, at 57.5 percent, maintained the lowest. The South and West posted employment-population ratios that were significantly lower than the national figure of 58.4 percent, while the Midwest recorded a significantly higher ratio. (See table 2.)

The Mountain was the only division to register a statistically significant change in its employment-population ratio in 2011 (-0.7 percentage point). The East South Central again recorded the lowest proportion of employed persons, 55.2 percent. The next lowest ratios were posted in the Pacific, 56.9 percent; South Atlantic, 57.3percent; and Middle Atlantic, 57.7 percent. Ratios in all four of these divisions were significantly below the national average. The division with the highest employment-population ratio was the West North Central, at 64.7 percent, followed by New England, at 61.6 percent. These two divisions, along with the Mountain and West South Central, at 59.1 percent each, registered employment-population ratios measurably above that of the U.S. The ratio registered in the Pacific in 2011 was a series low. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.)

State Employment-Population Ratios

In 2011, Utah registered the largest employment-population ratio decline among states (-1.0 percentage point). The next largest statistically significant declines occurred in Arizona (-0.9 percentage point), Nevada and New Mexico (-0.8 point each), and New York (-0.5 point). The District of Columbia also reported a measurable decline (-1.3 percentage points). Virginia posted the only significant ratio increase among states (+0.2 percentage point). The remaining 44 states had employment-populationratios that were not significantly different from those of a year earlier.

West Virginia again reported the lowest employment-population ratio among the states, 49.5 percent. West Virginia has had the lowest employment-population ratio each year sincethe series began in 1976. Four states in the West North Central division again posted thehighest ratios: North Dakota, 69.3 percent; Nebraska, 68.5 percent; South Dakota, 68.1 percent;and Minnesota, 67.1 percent. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia recordedemployment-population ratios that were significantly above the U.S. ratio of 58.4 percent,and 16 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. The remaining 11 states hadratios that were not measurably different from that of the nation. Five states registeredthe lowest employment-population ratios in their series in 2011: California, 56.0 percent;Hawaii, 58.6 percent; Nevada, 57.2 percent; New Mexico, 54.3 percent; and North Carolina, 56.2percent. (See table C.)

_____________The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 23, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2010-11 annual averages-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Rate | |-------------------------| Over-the-year State | | | rate change | 2010 | 2011 | --------------------------------|------------|------------|---------------Arizona ........................| 10.5 | 9.5 | -1.0 California .....................| 12.4 | 11.7 | -.7 Colorado .......................| 8.9 | 8.3 | -.6 Delaware .......................| 8.0 | 7.3 | -.7 Florida ........................| 11.3 | 10.5 | -.8 Illinois .......................| 10.5 | 9.8 | -.7 Indiana ........................| 10.1 | 9.0 | -1.1 Kansas .........................| 7.2 | 6.7 | -.5 Kentucky .......................| 10.2 | 9.5 | -.7 Maine ..........................| 8.2 | 7.5 | -.7 | | | Maryland .......................| 7.8 | 7.0 | -.8



Massachusetts ..................| 8.3 | 7.4 | -.9 Michigan .......................| 12.7 | 10.3 | -2.4 Minnesota ......................| 7.3 | 6.4 | -.9 Missouri .......................| 9.4 | 8.6 | -.8 New Hampshire ..................| 6.1 | 5.4 | -.7 New York .......................| 8.6 | 8.2 | -.4 North Dakota ...................| 3.8 | 3.5 | -.3 Ohio ...........................| 10.0 | 8.6 | -1.4 Oklahoma .......................| 6.9 | 6.2 | -.7 | | | Oregon .........................| 10.7 | 9.5 | -1.2 Pennsylvania ...................| 8.5 | 7.9 | -.6 South Carolina .................| 11.2 | 10.3 | -.9 South Dakota ...................| 5.0 | 4.7 | -.3 Utah ...........................| 8.0 | 6.7 | -1.3 Vermont ........................| 6.4 | 5.6 | -.8 Virginia .......................| 6.9 | 6.2 | -.7 Washington .....................| 9.9 | 9.2 | -.7 Wisconsin ......................| 8.5 | 7.5 | -1.0 Wyoming ........................| 7.0 | 6.0 | -1.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table B. States with unemployment rates significantly differentfrom that of the U.S., 2011 annual averages-------------------------------------------------------------- State | Rate --------------------------------------------------------------United States .......................| 8.9 | Alaska ..............................| 7.6 Arkansas ............................| 8.0 California ..........................| 11.7 Colorado ............................| 8.3 Delaware ............................| 7.3 District of Columbia ................| 10.2 Florida .............................| 10.5 Georgia .............................| 9.8 Hawaii ..............................| 6.7 Illinois ............................| 9.8 | Iowa ................................| 5.9 Kansas ..............................| 6.7 Louisiana ...........................| 7.3 Maine ...............................| 7.5 Maryland ............................| 7.0 Massachusetts .......................| 7.4 Michigan ............................| 10.3 Minnesota ...........................| 6.4 Mississippi .........................| 10.7 Montana .............................| 6.8 | Nebraska ............................| 4.4 Nevada ..............................| 13.5 New Hampshire .......................| 5.4 New Mexico ..........................| 7.4 New York ............................| 8.2 North Carolina ......................| 10.5 North Dakota ........................| 3.5 Oklahoma ............................| 6.2 Pennsylvania ........................| 7.9 Rhode Island ........................| 11.3 | South Carolina ......................| 10.3 South Dakota ........................| 4.7 Texas ...............................| 7.9 Utah ................................| 6.7 Vermont .............................| 5.6 Virginia ............................| 6.2 West Virginia .......................| 8.0



Wisconsin ...........................| 7.5 Wyoming .............................| 6.0 --------------------------------------------------------------

Table C. States with employment-population ratios significantlydifferent from that of the U.S., 2011 annual averages---------------------------------------------------------------- State | Ratio ----------------------------------------------------------------United States .......................| 58.4 | Alabama .............................| 53.4 Alaska ..............................| 64.2 Arizona .............................| 55.8 Arkansas ............................| 55.9 California ..........................| 56.0 Colorado ............................| 63.7 Connecticut .........................| 62.0 Delaware ............................| 57.3 District of Columbia ................| 60.1 Florida .............................| 54.4 | Illinois ............................| 59.5 Iowa ................................| 65.9 Kansas ..............................| 64.8 Kentucky ............................| 55.5 Louisiana ...........................| 54.9 Maine ...............................| 60.3 Maryland ............................| 62.8 Massachusetts .......................| 60.7 Michigan ............................| 53.9 Minnesota ...........................| 67.1 | Mississippi .........................| 53.5 Missouri ............................| 59.9 Nebraska ............................| 68.5 Nevada ..............................| 57.2 New Hampshire .......................| 65.9 New Jersey ..........................| 59.8 New Mexico ..........................| 54.3 New York ............................| 56.5 North Carolina ......................| 56.2 North Dakota ........................| 69.3 | South Carolina ......................| 53.5 South Dakota ........................| 68.1 Texas ...............................| 60.4 Utah ................................| 62.5 Vermont .............................| 66.4 Virginia ............................| 64.7 Washington ..........................| 59.6 West Virginia .......................| 49.5 Wisconsin ...........................| 63.5 Wyoming .............................| 65.4 ----------------------------------------------------------------

Technical Note

This release presents labor force and unemployment data for census regionsand divisions and states from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)program. The LAUS program is a federal-state cooperative endeavor.

Concepts

Definitions. The labor force and unemployment data are based on the sameconcepts and definitions as those used for the official national estimates



obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a sample survey of house-holds that is conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S.Census Bureau. The LAUS program measures employment and unemployment on aplace-of-residence basis. The universe for each is the civilian noninstitu-tional population 16 years of age and over. Employed persons are those who didany work at all for pay or profit in the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month) or worked 15 hours or more without pay in a familybusiness or farm, plus those not working who had a job from which they weretemporarily absent, whether or not paid, for such reasons as labor-manage-ment dispute, illness, or vacation. Unemployed persons are those who werenot employed during the reference week (based on the definition above), hadactively looked for a job sometime in the 4-week period ending with thereference week, and were currently available for work; persons on layoffexpecting recall need not be looking for work to be counted as unemployed.The labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed persons. The unemploy-ment rate is the number of unemployed expressed as a percent of the laborforce. The employment-population ratio is the proportion of the civiliannoninstitutional population 16 years of age and over that is employed.

Method of estimation. Estimates for 48 of the 50 states, the District ofColumbia, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan division, New YorkCity, and the balances of California and New York State are produced usingestimating equations based on regression techniques. This method, which under-went substantial enhancement at the beginning of 2005, utilizes data fromseveral sources, including the CPS, the Current Employment Statistics (CES)survey of nonfarm payroll employment, and state unemployment insurance (UI)programs. Estimates for the State of California are derived by summing theestimates for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan division andthe balance of California. Similarly, estimates for New York State are derivedby summing the estimates for New York City and the balance of New York State.Estimates for all nine census divisions are based on a similar regressionapproach that does not incorporate CES or UI data. Estimates for censusregions are obtained by summing the model-based estimates for the componentdivisions and then calculating the unemployment rate. Each month, censusdivision estimates are controlled to national totals; state estimates arethen controlled to their respective division totals. Estimates for Puerto Ricoare derived from a monthly household survey similar to the CPS. A detaileddescription of the estimation procedures is available from BLS upon request.

Annual revisions. Labor force and unemployment data for prior years reflectadjustments made at the end of each year. The adjusted estimates incorporateupdated population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, any revisions in theother data sources, and model reestimation. The population data (except forPuerto Rico) reflect, for the first time, the results of the 2010 Census. Inmost years, historical data for the most recent 5 years (both seasonallyadjusted and not seasonally adjusted) are revised near the beginning of eachcalendar year, prior to the release of January estimates. Though the laborforce estimates are changed for 5 years, the population estimates are adjustedback to the new decennial estimates base of April 2010.

Reliability of the estimates

The estimates presented in this release are based on sample surveys,administrative data, and modeling and, thus, are subject to sampling andother types of errors. Sampling error is a measure of sampling variability--that is, variation that occurs by chance because a sample rather than theentire population is surveyed. Survey data also are subject to nonsamplingerrors, such as those which can be introduced into the data collection andprocessing operations. Estimates not directly derived from sample surveysare subject to additional errors resulting from the specific estimationprocesses used. In table 1, level estimates for states may not sum to levelestimates for regions and divisions because of rounding. Unemployment ratesand employment-population ratios are computed from unrounded levels and thusmay differ slightly from rates and ratios computed using the rounded levelestimates displayed in table 1.

Use of error measures. In 2005, the LAUS program introduced severalimprovements to its methodology. Among these was the development of model-based error measures for the monthly estimates and the estimates of over-the-month changes. Annual average model-based error measures became avail-



able for the first time after 2006. The introductory section of this releasepreserves the long-time practice of highlighting the direction of the move-ments in regional and state unemployment rates and employment-populationratios regardless of their statistical significance. The remainder of theanalysis in the release--other than historical highs and lows--takes statis-tical significance into consideration. Model-based error measures are avail-able online at www.bls.gov/lau/lastderr.htm. BLS uses 90-percent confidencelevels in determining whether changes in LAUS unemployment rates or employment-population ratios are statistically significant. The average magnitude of theover-the-year change in an annual state unemployment rate that is required inorder to be statistically significant at the 90-percent confidence level isabout 0.5 percentage point. The average magnitude of the over-the-year changein an annual state employment-population ratio that is required in order tobe statistically significant at the 90-percent confidence level is about 0.6percentage point. More details can be found on the Web site. Measures of non-sampling error are not available, but additional information on the subject isprovided in Employment & Earnings Online, available on the BLS Web site atwww.bls.gov/opub/ee/home.htm.

Additional information

More complete information on the technical procedures used to develop theseestimates and additional data appear in Employment & Earnings Online.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impairedindividuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service:(800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state,2010-11 annual averages (Numbers in thousands) Population Civilian labor Employed Unemployed Unemployment force rate Error range of Region, division, and state rate, 2011 (1) 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 United States............. 237,830 239,618 153,889 153,617 139,064 139,869 14,825 13,747 9.6 8.9 8.9 - 9.0 Northeast...................... 43,812 44,082 28,287 28,186 25,824 25,880 2,462 2,305 8.7 8.2 8.0 - 8.4 New England................. 11,520 11,589 7,756 7,740 7,097 7,140 659 599 8.5 7.7 7.4 - 8.1 Connecticut.............. 2,796 2,822 1,917 1,918 1,738 1,749 178 169 9.3 8.8 8.3 - 9.3 Maine.................... 1,073 1,079 701 704 643 651 57 53 8.2 7.5 7.0 - 8.1 Massachusetts............ 5,245 5,275 3,469 3,456 3,181 3,202 289 254 8.3 7.4 6.8 - 7.9 New Hampshire............ 1,056 1,060 739 738 694 698 45 40 6.1 5.4 5.1 - 5.8 Rhode Island............. 842 843 570 563 504 500 67 63 11.7 11.3 10.5 - 12.0 Vermont.................. 508 511 360 359 337 339 23 20 6.4 5.6 5.1 - 6.0



Middle Atlantic............. 32,292 32,492 20,531 20,446 18,728 18,740 1,803 1,706 8.8 8.3 8.1 - 8.6 New Jersey............... 6,860 6,915 4,554 4,556 4,117 4,132 437 424 9.6 9.3 8.8 - 9.9 New York................. 15,379 15,452 9,587 9,504 8,762 8,730 825 775 8.6 8.2 7.8 - 8.5 Pennsylvania............. 10,053 10,125 6,390 6,386 5,849 5,879 541 507 8.5 7.9 7.5 - 8.4 Midwest........................ 51,801 52,080 34,467 34,308 31,210 31,442 3,257 2,866 9.5 8.4 8.1 - 8.6 East North Central.......... 36,016 36,172 23,473 23,281 21,014 21,143 2,459 2,137 10.5 9.2 8.9 - 9.5 Illinois................. 9,905 9,950 6,603 6,566 5,911 5,925 692 640 10.5 9.8 9.2 - 10.3 Indiana.................. 4,964 5,006 3,177 3,188 2,856 2,901 320 287 10.1 9.0 8.3 - 9.7 Michigan................. 7,739 7,753 4,747 4,658 4,147 4,178 601 480 12.7 10.3 9.7 - 10.9 Ohio..................... 8,970 8,999 5,864 5,806 5,279 5,305 586 501 10.0 8.6 8.1 - 9.2 Wisconsin................ 4,438 4,465 3,083 3,062 2,822 2,833 261 229 8.5 7.5 7.0 - 8.0 West North Central.......... 15,785 15,908 10,994 11,028 10,196 10,299 798 729 7.3 6.6 6.4 - 6.9 Iowa..................... 2,359 2,377 1,670 1,664 1,565 1,566 105 98 6.3 5.9 5.4 - 6.4 Kansas................... 2,150 2,166 1,505 1,505 1,397 1,404 108 101 7.2 6.7 6.2 - 7.2 Minnesota................ 4,117 4,152 2,959 2,978 2,742 2,787 217 191 7.3 6.4 6.0 - 6.8 Missouri................. 4,630 4,651 3,053 3,046 2,767 2,786 286 261 9.4 8.6 7.9 - 9.2 Nebraska................. 1,387 1,403 989 1,005 942 961 46 45 4.7 4.4 4.0 - 4.9 North Dakota............. 521 533 376 383 361 370 14 13 3.8 3.5 3.1 - 3.9 South Dakota............. 620 625 443 446 421 425 22 21 5.0 4.7 4.3 - 5.1 South.......................... 87,697 88,998 55,598 56,134 50,421 51,192 5,176 4,942 9.3 8.8 8.6 - 9.0 South Atlantic.............. 46,422 47,108 29,489 29,747 26,560 26,986 2,929 2,760 9.9 9.3 9.0 - 9.5 Delaware................. 701 711 437 439 402 407 35 32 8.0 7.3 6.8 - 7.9 District of Columbia..... 503 514 343 344 309 309 35 35 10.1 10.2 9.5 - 11.0 Florida.................. 14,941 15,215 9,132 9,249 8,102 8,278 1,030 970 11.3 10.5 10.1 - 10.9 Georgia.................. 7,320 7,379 4,695 4,725 4,214 4,262 481 463 10.2 9.8 9.2 - 10.4 Maryland................. 4,486 4,545 3,057 3,072 2,818 2,856 239 217 7.8 7.0 6.6 - 7.5 North Carolina........... 7,286 7,405 4,617 4,654 4,112 4,165 505 489 10.9 10.5 9.9 - 11.1 South Carolina........... 3,566 3,616 2,151 2,157 1,909 1,936 241 221 11.2 10.3 9.5 - 11.1 Virginia................. 6,143 6,237 4,255 4,306 3,960 4,037 295 269 6.9 6.2 5.8 - 6.7 West Virginia............ 1,477 1,487 802 800 734 736 68 64 8.5 8.0 7.1 - 8.8 East South Central.......... 14,197 14,323 8,641 8,735 7,784 7,910 857 824 9.9 9.4 9.0 - 9.9 Alabama.................. 3,692 3,731 2,179 2,191 1,972 1,994 207 197 9.5 9.0 7.8 - 10.1 Kentucky................. 3,350 3,371 2,060 2,068 1,849 1,871 211 197 10.2 9.5 8.8 - 10.3



Mississippi.............. 2,227 2,244 1,317 1,344 1,179 1,201 138 143 10.5 10.7 9.7 - 11.6 Tennessee................ 4,928 4,977 3,084 3,133 2,783 2,845 301 288 9.8 9.2 8.5 - 9.9 West South Central.......... 27,078 27,567 17,468 17,653 16,078 16,296 1,390 1,357 8.0 7.7 7.4 - 8.0 Arkansas................. 2,233 2,253 1,357 1,370 1,249 1,260 108 110 7.9 8.0 7.3 - 8.8 Louisiana................ 3,439 3,475 2,070 2,061 1,915 1,909 155 151 7.5 7.3 6.5 - 8.2 Oklahoma................. 2,834 2,870 1,771 1,771 1,649 1,662 122 109 6.9 6.2 5.6 - 6.7 Texas.................... 18,573 18,969 12,270 12,452 11,265 11,465 1,005 987 8.2 7.9 7.6 - 8.3 West........................... 55,097 55,856 35,902 35,878 31,938 32,160 3,965 3,718 11.0 10.4 10.1 - 10.6 Mountain.................... 16,737 16,926 11,073 10,989 10,007 10,009 1,066 980 9.6 8.9 8.6 - 9.2 Arizona.................. 4,898 4,926 3,100 3,034 2,775 2,747 325 288 10.5 9.5 8.7 - 10.3 Colorado................. 3,870 3,922 2,725 2,723 2,481 2,497 244 226 8.9 8.3 7.8 - 8.8 Idaho.................... 1,166 1,181 763 771 697 704 67 67 8.8 8.7 7.9 - 9.5 Montana.................. 778 787 499 505 464 470 34 35 6.9 6.8 6.1 - 7.6 Nevada................... 2,062 2,095 1,386 1,386 1,195 1,198 190 188 13.7 13.5 12.8 - 14.3 New Mexico............... 1,560 1,583 934 928 860 859 74 69 7.9 7.4 6.7 - 8.2 Utah..................... 1,972 1,996 1,362 1,338 1,253 1,248 109 90 8.0 6.7 6.2 - 7.3 Wyoming.................. 431 438 303 304 282 286 21 18 7.0 6.0 5.4 - 6.5 Pacific..................... 38,359 38,930 24,830 24,889 21,931 22,151 2,899 2,738 11.7 11.0 10.7 - 11.3 Alaska................... 518 529 364 367 335 339 29 28 8.0 7.6 6.8 - 8.3 California............... 28,531 28,968 18,316 18,385 16,052 16,227 2,265 2,158 12.4 11.7 11.4 - 12.1 Hawaii................... 1,028 1,051 649 661 605 616 45 44 6.9 6.7 6.1 - 7.3 Oregon................... 3,035 3,067 1,984 1,992 1,772 1,804 211 188 10.7 9.5 8.8 - 10.1 Washington............... 5,247 5,315 3,516 3,485 3,167 3,165 349 319 9.9 9.2 8.5 - 9.8 Puerto Rico.................... 3,100 3,152 1,297 1,275 1,089 1,075 209 200 16.1 15.7 NA 1 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded data. NA = Data not available. NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Unemployment rates are in percent and are based on unrounded levels. Data for subnationalareas reflect revised population controls and model reestimation. As a result, they will not add to U.S. totals. Data for Puerto Ricoare derived from a monthly household survey similar to the Current Population Survey.

Table 2. Employment-population ratios of persons 16 years of age and over by region, division,and state, 2010-11 annual averages

(Percent)



Employment-population ratio (1) Over-the- Error range of Region, division, and state year ratio, change 2011 (2) 2010 2011 United States............. 58.5 58.4 -0.1 58.2 - 58.6 Northeast...................... 58.9 58.7 -.2 58.3 - 59.1 New England................. 61.6 61.6 .0 60.9 - 62.3 Connecticut.............. 62.2 62.0 -.2 60.8 - 63.1 Maine.................... 59.9 60.3 .4 59.1 - 61.5 Massachusetts............ 60.6 60.7 .1 59.6 - 61.8 New Hampshire............ 65.7 65.9 .2 64.9 - 66.9 Rhode Island............. 59.8 59.3 -.5 58.2 - 60.5 Vermont.................. 66.2 66.4 .2 65.2 - 67.6 Middle Atlantic............. 58.0 57.7 -.3 57.1 - 58.2 New Jersey............... 60.0 59.8 -.2 58.8 - 60.7 New York................. 57.0 56.5 -.5 55.8 - 57.1 Pennsylvania............. 58.2 58.1 -.1 57.2 - 58.9 Midwest........................ 60.2 60.4 .2 60.0 - 60.8 East North Central.......... 58.3 58.5 .2 57.9 - 59.0 Illinois................. 59.7 59.5 -.2 58.6 - 60.5 Indiana.................. 57.5 58.0 .5 56.5 - 59.4 Michigan................. 53.6 53.9 .3 52.9 - 54.9 Ohio..................... 58.8 59.0 .2 58.1 - 59.8 Wisconsin................ 63.6 63.5 -.1 62.1 - 64.8 West North Central.......... 64.6 64.7 .1 64.1 - 65.3 Iowa..................... 66.3 65.9 -.4 64.8 - 67.0 Kansas................... 65.0 64.8 -.2 63.7 - 66.0 Minnesota................ 66.6 67.1 .5 66.0 - 68.3 Missouri................. 59.8 59.9 .1 58.6 - 61.2 Nebraska................. 67.9 68.5 .6 67.4 - 69.6 North Dakota............. 69.3 69.3 .0 67.9 - 70.8 South Dakota............. 67.9 68.1 .2 66.9 - 69.3 South.......................... 57.5 57.5 .0 57.2 - 57.8 South Atlantic.............. 57.2 57.3 .1 56.8 - 57.7 Delaware................. 57.3 57.3 .0 56.2 - 58.3 District of Columbia..... 61.4 60.1 -1.3 59.0 - 61.3 Florida.................. 54.2 54.4 .2 53.5 - 55.3 Georgia.................. 57.6 57.8 .2 56.7 - 58.8 Maryland................. 62.8 62.8 .0 61.9 - 63.7 North Carolina........... 56.4 56.2 -.2 55.2 - 57.2 South Carolina........... 53.5 53.5 .0 52.3 - 54.8 Virginia................. 64.5 64.7 .2 63.9 - 65.6 West Virginia............ 49.7 49.5 -.2 47.9 - 51.1 East South Central.......... 54.8 55.2 .4 54.4 - 56.0 Alabama.................. 53.4 53.4 .0 51.7 - 55.2 Kentucky................. 55.2 55.5 .3 54.2 - 56.8 Mississippi.............. 52.9 53.5 .6 52.0 - 55.0 Tennessee................ 56.5 57.2 .7 55.9 - 58.4 West South Central.......... 59.4 59.1 -.3 58.5 - 59.7 Arkansas................. 55.9 55.9 .0 54.7 - 57.1 Louisiana................ 55.7 54.9 -.8 53.4 - 56.5 Oklahoma................. 58.2 57.9 -.3 56.6 - 59.2 Texas.................... 60.7 60.4 -.3 59.7 - 61.2 West........................... 58.0 57.6 -.4 57.2 - 57.9 Mountain.................... 59.8 59.1 -.7 58.5 - 59.8 Arizona.................. 56.7 55.8 -.9 54.1 - 57.4 Colorado................. 64.1 63.7 -.4 62.2 - 65.2



Idaho.................... 59.7 59.6 -.1 58.1 - 61.0 Montana.................. 59.7 59.8 .1 58.3 - 61.3 Nevada................... 58.0 57.2 -.8 56.0 - 58.3 New Mexico............... 55.1 54.3 -.8 53.2 - 55.3 Utah..................... 63.5 62.5 -1.0 61.0 - 64.1 Wyoming.................. 65.4 65.4 .0 64.1 - 66.7 Pacific..................... 57.2 56.9 -.3 56.5 - 57.3 Alaska................... 64.7 64.2 -.5 62.5 - 65.9 California............... 56.3 56.0 -.3 55.6 - 56.5 Hawaii................... 58.8 58.6 -.2 57.4 - 59.9 Oregon................... 58.4 58.8 .4 57.8 - 59.8 Washington............... 60.4 59.6 -.8 58.5 - 60.6 Puerto Rico.................... 35.1 34.1 -1.0 NA 1 Employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of ageand over. 2 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unroundeddata. NA = Data not available. NOTE: Data refer to place of residence. Employment-population ratios are based onunrounded levels. Data for subnational areas reflect revised population controls and modelreestimation. Data for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar tothe Current Population Survey.


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For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, February 29, 2012 USDL-12-0371 Technical information: (202) 691-6392 • [email protected] • www.bls.gov/lau Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • [email protected]

REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT — 2011 ANNUAL AVERAGES In 2011, annual average unemployment rates declined in 48 states and rose in 2 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios decreased in 24 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 19 states, and were unchanged in 7 states. The U.S. jobless rate in 2011 was 8.9 percent, down 0.7 percentage point from the prior year. The national employment-population ratio continued to trend down to 58.4 percent in 2011. Regional Unemployment All four regions posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2011. The Midwest experienced the greatest decline (-1.1 percentage points), followed by the West (-0.6 point) and the Northeast and South (-0.5 point each). The West, at 10.4 percent, registered the only jobless rate significantly higher than that of the U.S. in 2011. The Northeast and Midwest, at 8.2 and 8.4 percent, respectively, both had rates significantly below the national figure. (See table 1.) Eight of the 9 geographic divisions reported statistically significant over-the-year unemployment rate changes in 2011, all of which were decreases. The largest of these occurred in the East North Central (-1.3 percentage points) and New England (-0.8 point). For the fourth year in a row, the Pacific recorded the highest unemployment rate, 11.0 percent in 2011. The next highest rates were in the East South Central and South Atlantic, 9.4 and 9.3 percent, respectively. The rates of these three divisions were significantly above the U.S. average. The West North Central division again posted the lowest jobless rate, 6.6 percent. Three other divisions—the Middle Atlantic, New England, and West South Central—also had rates significantly below the national figure. State Unemployment In 2011, 30 states posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in Michigan (-2.4 percentage points). Four additional states experienced decreases greater than 1.0 percentage point: Ohio (-1.4 points), Utah (-1.3 points), Oregon (-1.2 points), and Indiana (-1.1 points). The remaining 20 states and the District of Columbia reported annual average unemployment rates for 2011 that were not appreciably different from those of the previous year, even though some had changes that were at least as large numerically as the significant changes. (See table A and chart 1.) Eight states and the District of Columbia reported unemployment rates of 10.0 percent or more in 2011. Nevada again posted the highest unemployment rate, 13.5 percent, followed by California, 11.7 percent. North Dakota registered the lowest jobless rate among states for the third year in a row, 3.5 percent,

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followed by Nebraska, 4.4 percent. Overall, 28 states had unemployment rates that were significantly lower than the U.S. rate of 8.9 percent, while 10 states and the District of Columbia recorded rates significantly above it. (See table B and chart 2.)

Regional Employment-Population Ratios In 2011, the West was the only region to register a statistically significant change (-0.4 percentage point) in its employment-population ratio—the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over with a job. The Midwest continued to report the highest ratio, 60.4 percent, while the South, at 57.5 percent, maintained the lowest. The South and West posted employment-population ratios that were significantly lower than the national figure of 58.4 percent, while the Midwest recorded a significantly higher ratio. (See table 2.) The Mountain was the only division to register a statistically significant change in its employment-population ratio in 2011 (-0.7 percentage point). The East South Central again recorded the lowest proportion of employed persons, 55.2 percent. The next lowest ratios were posted in the Pacific, 56.9 percent; South Atlantic, 57.3 percent; and Middle Atlantic, 57.7 percent. Ratios in all four of these divisions were significantly below the national average. The division with the highest employment-population ratio was the West North Central, at 64.7 percent, followed by New England, at 61.6 percent. These two divisions, along with the Mountain and West South Central, at 59.1 percent each, registered employment-population ratios measurably above that of the U.S. The ratio registered in the Pacific in 2011 was a series low. (All region, division, and state series begin in 1976.) State Employment-Population Ratios In 2011, Utah registered the largest employment-population ratio decline among states (-1.0 percentage point). The next largest statistically significant declines occurred in Arizona (-0.9 percentage point), Nevada and New Mexico (-0.8 point each), and New York (-0.5 point). The District of Columbia also reported a measurable decline (-1.3 percentage points). Virginia posted the only significant ratio increase among states (+0.2 percentage point). The remaining 44 states had employment-population ratios that were not significantly different from those of a year earlier. West Virginia again reported the lowest employment-population ratio among the states, 49.5 percent. West Virginia has had the lowest employment-population ratio each year since the series began in 1976. Four states in the West North Central division again posted the highest ratios: North Dakota, 69.3 percent; Nebraska, 68.5 percent; South Dakota, 68.1 percent; and Minnesota, 67.1 percent. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia recorded employment-population ratios that were significantly above the U.S. ratio of 58.4 percent, and 16 states had ratios that were appreciably below it. The remaining 11 states had ratios that were not measurably different from that of the nation. Five states registered the lowest employment-population ratios in their series in 2011: California, 56.0 percent; Hawaii, 58.6 percent; Nevada, 57.2 percent; New Mexico, 54.3 percent; and North Carolina, 56.2 percent. (See table C and chart 3.) _________________ The Regional and State Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for January 2012 is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 23, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

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Table A. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes, 2010–11annual averages

2010 2011

Arizona .................................... 10.5 9.5 -1.0California ................................. 12.4 11.7 -.7Colorado .................................. 8.9 8.3 -.6Delaware ................................. 8.0 7.3 -.7Florida ..................................... 11.3 10.5 -.8Illinois ...................................... 10.5 9.8 -.7Indiana .................................... 10.1 9.0 -1.1Kansas .................................... 7.2 6.7 -.5Kentucky ................................. 10.2 9.5 -.7Maine ...................................... 8.2 7.5 -.7

Maryland ................................. 7.8 7.0 -.8Massachusetts ........................ 8.3 7.4 -.9Michigan .................................. 12.7 10.3 -2.4Minnesota ................................ 7.3 6.4 -.9Missouri .................................. 9.4 8.6 -.8New Hampshire ........................ 6.1 5.4 -.7New York ................................. 8.6 8.2 -.4North Dakota ............................ 3.8 3.5 -.3Ohio ........................................ 10.0 8.6 -1.4Oklahoma ................................ 6.9 6.2 -.7

Oregon .................................... 10.7 9.5 -1.2Pennsylvania ............................ 8.5 7.9 -.6South Carolina ......................... 11.2 10.3 -.9South Dakota ........................... 5.0 4.7 -.3Utah ........................................ 8.0 6.7 -1.3Vermont .................................. 6.4 5.6 -.8Virginia .................................... 6.9 6.2 -.7Washington ............................. 9.9 9.2 -.7Wisconsin ............................... 8.5 7.5 -1.0Wyoming ................................. 7.0 6.0 -1.0

RateState

Over-the-year rate change

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State Rate

United States ................................................... 8.9

Alaska ............................................................ 7.6Arkansas ......................................................... 8.0California ......................................................... 11.7Colorado .......................................................... 8.3Delaware ......................................................... 7.3District of Columbia .......................................... 10.2Florida ............................................................. 10.5Georgia ........................................................... 9.8Hawaii ............................................................. 6.7Illinois ............................................................. 9.8

Iowa ................................................................ 5.9Kansas ........................................................... 6.7Louisiana ......................................................... 7.3Maine .............................................................. 7.5Maryland ......................................................... 7.0Massachusetts ................................................ 7.4Michigan ......................................................... 10.3Minnesota ....................................................... 6.4Mississippi ...................................................... 10.7Montana .......................................................... 6.8

Nebraska ......................................................... 4.4Nevada ............................................................ 13.5New Hampshire ................................................ 5.4New Mexico ..................................................... 7.4New York ........................................................ 8.2North Carolina .................................................. 10.5North Dakota ................................................... 3.5Oklahoma ........................................................ 6.2Pennsylvania ................................................... 7.9Rhode Island .................................................... 11.3

South Carolina ................................................. 10.3South Dakota ................................................... 4.7Texas .............................................................. 7.9Utah ................................................................ 6.7Vermont .......................................................... 5.6Virginia ............................................................ 6.2West Virginia ................................................... 8.0Wisconsin ....................................................... 7.5Wyoming ......................................................... 6.0

of the U.S., 2011 annual averagesTable B. States with unemployment rates significantly different from that

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State Ratio

United States ................................................... 58.4

Alabama .......................................................... 53.4Alaska ............................................................ 64.2Arizona ........................................................... 55.8Arkansas ......................................................... 55.9California ......................................................... 56.0Colorado .......................................................... 63.7Connecticut ..................................................... 62.0Delaware ......................................................... 57.3District of Columbia .......................................... 60.1Florida ............................................................. 54.4

Illinois ............................................................. 59.5Iowa ................................................................ 65.9Kansas ........................................................... 64.8Kentucky ......................................................... 55.5Louisiana ......................................................... 54.9Maine .............................................................. 60.3Maryland ......................................................... 62.8Massachusetts ................................................ 60.7Michigan ......................................................... 53.9Minnesota ....................................................... 67.1

Mississippi ...................................................... 53.5Missouri .......................................................... 59.9Nebraska ......................................................... 68.5Nevada ............................................................ 57.2New Hampshire ................................................ 65.9New Jersey ...................................................... 59.8New Mexico ..................................................... 54.3New York ........................................................ 56.5North Carolina .................................................. 56.2North Dakota ................................................... 69.3

South Carolina ................................................. 53.5South Dakota ................................................... 68.1Texas .............................................................. 60.4Utah ................................................................ 62.5Vermont .......................................................... 66.4Virginia ............................................................ 64.7Washington ..................................................... 59.6West Virginia ................................................... 49.5Wisconsin ....................................................... 63.5Wyoming ......................................................... 65.4

from that of the U.S., 2011 annual averagesTable C. States with employment-population ratios significantly different

Technical Note

This release presents labor force and unemployment data for census regions and divisions and states from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program. The LAUS program is a federal-state cooperative endeavor.

Concepts

Definitions. The labor force and unemployment data are

based on the same concepts and definitions as those used for the official national estimates obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a sample survey of households that is conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the U.S. Census Bureau. The LAUS program measures employ-ment and unemployment on a place-of-residence basis. The universe for each is the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over. Employed persons are those who did any work at all for pay or profit in the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month) or worked 15 hours or more without pay in a family business or farm, plus those not working who had a job from which they were temporarily absent, whether or not paid, for such reasons as labor-management dispute, illness, or vacation. Unemployed persons are those who were not employed during the reference week (based on the definition above), had actively looked for a job sometime in the 4-week period ending with the reference week, and were currently available for work; persons on layoff expecting recall need not be looking for work to be counted as unemployed. The labor force is the sum of employed and unemployed persons. The unem-ployment rate is the number of unemployed expressed as a percent of the labor force. The employment-population ratio is the proportion of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over that is employed.

Method of estimation. Estimates for 48 of the 50

states, the District of Columbia, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan division, New York City, and the balances of California and New York State are produced using estimating equations based on regression techniques. This method, which underwent substantial enhancement at the beginning of 2005, utilizes data from several sources, including the CPS, the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey of nonfarm payroll employment, and state unemployment insurance (UI) programs. Estimates for the State of California are derived by summing the estimates for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan division and the balance of California. Similarly, estimates for New York State are derived by summing the estimates for New York City and the balance of New York State. Estimates for all nine census divisions are based on a similar regression approach that does not incorporate CES or UI data. Estimates for census regions are obtained by summing the model-based estimates for the component divisions and then calculating the unemployment rate. Each month, census division estimates are controlled to national totals; state estimates are then controlled to their respective division totals. Estimates for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey

similar to the CPS. A detailed description of the estimation procedures is available from BLS upon request.

Annual revisions. Labor force and unemployment data

for prior years reflect adjustments made at the end of each year. The adjusted estimates incorporate updated population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, any revisions in the other data sources, and model reestimation. The population data (except for Puerto Rico) reflect, for the first time, the results of the 2010 Census. In most years, historical data for the most recent 5 years (both seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted) are revised near the beginning of each calendar year, prior to the release of January estimates. Though the labor force estimates are changed for 5 years, the population estimates are adjusted back to the new decennial estimates base of April 2010.

Reliability of the estimates

The estimates presented in this release are based on sample surveys, administrative data, and modeling and, thus, are subject to sampling and other types of errors. Sampling error is a measure of sampling variability—that is, variation that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed. Survey data also are subject to nonsampling errors, such as those which can be introduced into the data collection and processing operations. Estimates not directly derived from sample surveys are subject to additional errors resulting from the specific estimation processes used. In table 1, level estimates for states may not sum to level estimates for regions and divisions because of rounding. Unemployment rates and employment-population ratios are computed from unrounded levels and thus may differ

Documents

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