Area Development
Regional and state unemployment generally declined, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Only five states saw unemployment increases, while 39 states and Washington, DC experienced decreases, and six states had no change. The national jobless rate measured 9.5 percent, a monthly drop of 0.2 percent, and the same as in June 2009.

Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Louisiana, and North Carolina made the greatest monthly employment increases. Montana, Alaska, Arkansas, and Vermont added the most employees in terms of percentages. California, New York, Tennessee, Arizona, and New Mexico had the highest unemployment increases. New Mexico, Hawaii, and Tennessee experienced the highest increases in terms of percentages.

Regionally, the West had the highest unemployment rate of 10.7 percent in June. The Northeast had the lowest, of 8.8 percent. The West's unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percent from the previous year. The West North Central had the greatest annual unemployment decrease, of 0.6 percent.

Nevada continued to have the highest state unemployment rate of 14.2 percent last month. Michigan recorded a 13.2 percent jobless rate, followed by California with 12.3 percent and Rhode Island with 12 percent. North Dakota still had the lowest unemployment rate of 3.6 percent, followed by South Dakota with 4.5 percent and Nebraska with 4.8 percent.