States with the highest unemployment rate in April-2009

Click on Chart for a Larger Image

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21 states saw their unemployment rate decrease in April 2009 vs. March 2009 and 18 states (& Washington DC) saw their unemployment rate increase month-on-month.

The States with the highest rates of unemployment in April include:

1. Michigan 12.9% (up 0.3pp in the month)
2. Oregon 12.0% (down 0.1pp in the month)
3. South Carolina 11.5% (up 0.1pp)
4. Rhode Island 11.1% (up 0.6 pp)
5. California 11.0% (down 0.2 pp)
6. North Carolina 10.8% (same)
7. Nevada 10.6% (up 0.2pp)
8. Ohio 10.2% (up 0.5pp)
9. Indiana 9.9% (down 0.1)
10. Washington DC 9.9% (up 0.1)
11. Tennessee 9.9% (up 0.3)
12. Kentucky 9.8% (same)
13. Florida 9.6% (down 0.1)

Now in order for the increase/decrease in unemployment rate to be statistically significant in the month it should move by at least 0.3 percentage points---so statistically speaking most of the states were flat March to April---But things definitely got worse in Michigan, Rhode Island, Ohio and Tennessee.