Unemployment State By State (37 States Have Levels BELOW The National Average!)

Clymer News Network ^

[Recovering_Democrat]

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -- The unemployment rate in May jumped to 6.1 percent, the highest level since July 1994. Unemployed workers now total 9 million, up from 8.4 million in March.

The numbers below are for May and were released June 20 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Numbers for June are due July 18.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Democrat party operatives are using the unemployment numbers as a political crowbar to bash the Commander In Chief. I find it interesting that the national rate, though, is not reflective of the states.

Notice: 9 states (plus D.C.) have UE rates above the national rate.

4 states have rates the same as the national rate.

37 states have unemployment rates BELOW the national average!

Funny, this kind of stuff never makes it into the news....why not look at the 10 states that're creating this supposedly "high" rate (historically, 6.1% is not that high) and see why there is such high unemployment?

I think it is more politically convienient for the lazy asses in the media to just adopt Democrat talking points instead of investigating the issue themselves.

[What Name Should I Use?]

Why are some below the National average?

[dark_lord]

In the cases of California, Illinois, and New York; it is because they have the major urban centers with much manufacturing, high tech, and financial industries. These urban metros are the engines that pull the economic train of the country, so to speak. And the incomes tend to be higher there (along with an associated cost of living), which means that they pay more in taxes for the federal government. It is a bad thing when those three states, diverse geographically and industrially, are all hammered. This is not a DemonRat versus a Republican thing -- this is a BAD THING!!

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Your deep understanding of statistics may not be ABOVE the national average. :)))))))))

[AntiGuv]

Unfortunately, those at or above the average rate of unemployment have precisely 50% of the nation's population. Funny how it works out that way. Good luck with this line of argument..

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Why are some below the National average?

Exactly. W should struggle to lift ALL states' unemployment rate above the national average.

[ex-snook]

I'm puzzled about Hawaii. I understand their economy is way down. Wonder how part-time work is treated if employers limbo under the requirement for health-benefits?

[Ole Okie]

South Dakota 3.2%

Oh goodness gracious. D'Asshole gets to brag about SD unemployment.

Of course the total population of the state is about 500 cold natured souls and one hot head.

[SCHROLL]

Even those numbers are skewed. Take SC where I live. 6.2% overall, but there are some counties well below that average and some well above it. Lexington County checked in at 3.3% in the last report. Where I live in Fairfield County it's 15.1%. Of course in the last few years we've had JPM, a computer products provider, close completely as well as Mack Truck pull up stakes and go back north, Fuji Copain, a printer ribbon and photo chemical producer, close and reopen under new ownership with a greatly reduced work force, and just recently Uniroyal-Goodrich close half of the tire cord mill here. Unemployment is the most local of all issues facing the country today.

[AntiGuv]

To be sure, make that almost precisely 50% of the nation's population...

[lelio]

I take unemployment figures with a grain of salt. The high tech community here in Seattle is far above 8% unemployment, and if they are employed its as a barista. A figure of underemployment would be helpful.

[maestro]

It is obvious that these states spend more time/effort? watching pornography than looking for work!

On the British Socialist Porno Express!

'Go Brits'.....teach the 'colonies' how you folks 'did it'.

/sarcasm

[cajun-jack]

Louisiana is above the national avg because of the thieving communist bastards in baton rouge stealing every dime they can and people are moving away!!!!!!!!!!!!! if the goobermint would quit stealing money from the people that work and giving it to the ones that won't, unemployment would probably be 1.1%

[byteback]

Wht looks interesting here is that 3/4 of the states with above avg unemployment also have Dem Govs.

[wimpycat]

YAY! We're AVERAGE! Whoo-hoo!

[Ford Fairlane]

Actual unemployment in Illinois is estimated somewhere between 8% & 9% - Illiniois only reports as unemployed those who are actually collecting state unemployment benefits

Average job hunt time in Illinois is somewhere between 16 & 20 weeks - keep in mind that those who work in unskilled jobs can find another job quickly, while those with specialised skills must either wait a long time or accept a lower paying job that they are way overqualified for

[arasina]

Hate to say it but I'm one of those statistics: unemployed. Have been so for way too long. I'm having trouble even getting temp work! I'm watching the economy, using up my savings, and sending out resumes. Have lousy, high-priced individual health insurance. Lifelong Conservative, so perhaps I'm a little more patient and don't whine about it except occasionally. ;o) This issue is definitely a hot one for me and I can understand how it could easily be used as a campaign issue by the Dims.

That said, I don't plan on voting for any liberal candidate. Ever. And in the meantime, as long as I can still afford an internet provider, I'll just keep posting away here on FreeRepublic. :-)

[Recovering_Democrat]

From my review, it appears a huge chunk of these above average states...California, New York, Michigan, and Illinois for example tend to be HIGH TAX states, some with a plethora of social spending.

Three more, Alaska, Texas and Louisiana, are states that could BENEFIT from a more aggressive Energy policy that is stalled by Democrat Party operatives.

D.C., of course, is a lost cause. But you've got 7 of the 10 that would probably be in better shape if government just GOT OUT OF THE WAY and let the market work.

[Eala]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[AntiGuv]

Hmmm.. In this followup you make some excellent points, which weren't articulated in the opening remarks. I guess I misconstrued the implications of your data parsing (as if it were meant to suggest unemployment isn't really all that problematic, because it's only a few states with relatively elevated levels). Anyhow, it's worth noting that high rates of unemployment are well-correlated with the dot-com bubble economy fallout. The true culprit lies there; the ultimate solution must be systematic, not localized.