US unemployment rate holds steady at 4.1% in Sept

The US unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 per cent in September 2024, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. Compared to the same month last year, the national rate was 0.3 percentage points higher.

Across states, unemployment trends varied, with five states seeing increases, one state recording a decrease, and the remaining 44 states and the District of Columbia showing little change.

South Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0 per cent, while the District of Columbia posted the highest at 5.7 per cent. South Carolina and Utah saw the largest monthly unemployment rate increases (+0.2 percentage points), while Connecticut was the only state to report a decline (-0.2 percentage points).

On the employment front, nonfarm payrolls grew in five states and the District of Columbia. New Jersey led with 19,200 new jobs, followed by Colorado (+12,700) and Arizona (+11,200). Over the past year, Texas, California, and Florida posted the largest job gains, while Idaho and Montana saw the highest percentage growth at 3.4 per cent each.

Despite the disruption caused by Hurricane Francine, which hit Louisiana in mid-September, survey response rates remained normal both nationally and in affected areas.

Attribution: STATE EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT — SEPTEMBER 2024

Subediting: Y.Yasser