These 15 states have the highest rates of unemployment

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics these 15 states had the highest levels of unemployment in the United States during December 2008. Each of these states also had levels of unemployment that exceed the US average unemployment rate in December, 2008 (7.2%).

They were:

• Michigan 10.6%
• Rhode Island 10.0%
• South Carolina 9.5%
• California 9.3%
• Nevada 9.1%
• Oregon 9.0%
• Washington DC 8.8%
• North Carolina 8.7%
• Florida 8.1%
• Georgia 8.1%
• Mississippi 8.0%
• Tennessee 7.9%
• Kentucky 7.8%
• Ohio 7.8%
• Illinois 7.6%