Technical information:  (202) 691-6392         USDL 07-0305
               http://www.bls.gov/lau/
                                               For release:  10:00 A.M. EST
Media contact:                691-5902         Friday, March 2, 2007


           REGIONAL AND STATE UNEMPLOYMENT, 2006 ANNUAL AVERAGES


   Annual average unemployment rates declined between 2005 and 2006 in 43
states and the District of Columbia and in all 4 regions, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today.  Employ-
ment-population ratios rose in 41 states and the District of Columbia and
in all 4 regions.  The U.S. jobless rate fell by 0.5 percentage point to
4.6 percent in 2006, while the national employment-population ratio in-
creased by 0.4 percentage point to 63.1 percent.

Regional Unemployment

   All four regions registered statistically significant declines in their
jobless rates from 2005.  (See table 1.)  The West recorded the largest un-
employment rate decrease (-0.6 percentage point), and the South and Midwest
had the next largest declines (-0.5 and -0.4 percentage point, respectively).
The South reported the lowest jobless rate in 2006, 4.5 percent, while the
Midwest recorded the highest rate for the second consecutive year, 5.0 per-
cent.  The Midwest and South were the only two regions to register jobless
rates that were significantly different from that of the nation.  The range
between the highest and lowest regional unemployment rates edged down to
0.5 percentage point from 0.6 point in 2005.  The last time the range be-
tween regional unemployment rates was this small was in 1990.

   Eight of the nine geographic divisions--all but New England--posted sta-
tistically significant over-the-year unemployment rate declines in 2006.
The Mountain and West South Central reported the largest rate decreases
(-0.7 percentage point each).  The divisions with the next largest declines
were the East North Central, East South Central, Pacific, and West North
Central (-0.5 percentage point each).  Six divisions had jobless rates that
were significantly different from that of the nation.  Three divisions re-
ported rates that were measurably lower than that of the U.S.--the Moun-
tain at 3.9 percent and South Atlantic and West North Central at 4.1 per-
cent each.  Three divisions recorded rates that were higher than the U.S.
average--the East North Central at 5.3 percent, East South Central at 5.1
percent, and Pacific at 4.9 percent.  The jobless rate in the Pacific di-
vision was the lowest in its series.  (All region, division, and state
series begin in 1976.)

                                  - 2 -

State Unemployment

   Twenty-five states posted unemployment rate decreases from 2005 to 2006
that were statistically significant, and no state registered a significant
rate increase over the year.  The states with the largest rate declines
were Louisiana (-2.7 percentage points), Illinois and Utah (-1.2 points
each), New Mexico (-1.1 points), and Mississippi (-1.0 point).  Twenty
additional states reported significant over-the-year rate decreases, rang-
ing from -0.4 to -0.9 percentage point.  The remaining 25 states and the
District of Columbia recorded annual average unemployment rates for 2006
that were not appreciably different from those of 2005, even though some
had changes that were at least as large numerically as those with statis-
tically significant changes.  (See tables A and 1.)

   In 2006, Hawaii again reported the lowest unemployment rate among the
states, 2.4 percent.  Utah had the next lowest rate, 2.9 percent, followed
by Nebraska and Virginia at 3.0 percent each.  Twelve additional states
registered annual average unemployment rates below 4.0 percent.  Altogether,
20 states had jobless rates that were significantly below the U.S. rate,
while 12 states and the District of Columbia recorded rates that were appre-
ciably above it.  The rates for 18 states were not significantly different
from the overall U.S. rate.  The states with the highest unemployment rates
in 2006 were Michigan at 6.9 percent, Mississippi at 6.8 percent, Alaska at
6.7 percent, and South Carolina at 6.5 percent.  The District of Columbia
reported the next highest rate, 6.0 percent.  Eight states posted the lowest
annual jobless rates in their series--Alabama (3.6 percent), Florida (3.3 per-
cent), Idaho (3.4 percent), Louisiana (4.0 percent), Montana (3.2 percent),
New Mexico (4.2 percent), Utah (2.9 percent), and West Virginia (4.9 percent).
(See table B.)

Regional Employment-Population Ratios

   In 2006, all four regions registered statistically significant increases
in their employment-population ratios--the proportion of the civilian nonin-
stitutional population 16 years and over with a job.  The Midwest and South
posted the largest increases (+0.5 percentage point each).  The Midwest at
65.0 percent, was the only region to report an employment-population ratio
that was significantly higher than that of the nation (63.1 percent), while
the South at 62.3 percent, and the Northeast at 62.2 percent, had apprecia-
bly lower ratios.

   Among the nine geographic divisions, four posted over-the-year changes
to employment-population ratios that were statistically significant--all of
which were increases.  The Mountain division registered the largest increase
(+0.9 percentage point), followed by the South Atlantic (+0.7 point), East
North Central (+0.6 point), and East South Central (+0.5 point).  In 2006,
four divisions recorded employment-population ratios that were measurably
higher than that of the U.S. and four had lower ratios.  The West North
Central again reported the highest proportion of employed persons, 68.0
percent, while the East South Central continued to have the lowest propor-
tion, 59.4 percent.

State Employment-Population Ratios

   Twenty-one states posted significant increases in their proportions of
employed persons from 2005, and one state had a significant decline.  The
states with the largest employment-population ratio increases in 2006 were
Illinois and Utah (+1.6 percentage points each) and Colorado (+1.3 points).
Eight additional states recorded over-the-year increases of at least 1.0
percentage point, all of which were significant.  Mississippi was the only
state that registered a significant decrease in its employment-population
ratio in 2006 (-0.7 percentage point).  Twenty-eight states and the Dis-
trict of Columbia recorded employment-population ratios that were not ap-
preciably different from those of the previous year.  (See tables C and 2.)

                                  - 3 -

   In 2006, 24 states reported employment-population ratios that were sig-
nificantly higher than that of the U.S. and 16 states recorded appreciably
lower ratios.  The remaining 10 states and the District of Columbia had
rates that were essentially the same as the U.S. rate.  Among the states
with the highest employment-population ratios, five posted rates over 70.0
percent in 2006:  Minnesota, 70.6 percent; Nebraska, 70.4 percent; North
Dakota and South Dakota, 70.3 percent each; and Utah, 70.1 percent.  Among
the 16 states with ratios that were significantly lower than that of the
nation, 5 states had ratios below 60.0 percent--West Virginia, 52.8 per-
cent; Mississippi, 56.0 percent; Louisiana, 59.2 percent; Kentucky, 59.3
percent; and Alabama, 59.9 percent.  (See table D.)

Note

   All subnational estimates presented in this release were derived from
updated time-series models with real-time benchmarking to national Current
Population Survey (CPS) estimates.  Subnational data reflect revised popu-
lation controls and model reestimation.  Historical data were revised back
to 2002.  Data for regions, divisions, states, and the District of Columbia
are available back to 1976.

   Consistent with the long-standing practice used in this release and the
current practice in the monthly Regional and State Employment and Unemploy-
ment releases, the introductory section of this release highlights the di-
rection of the movements in regional and state unemployment rates and em-
ployment-population ratios regardless of their statistical significance.
The remainder of the analysis, particularly in comparisons with the U.S.
and over-the-year changes, reflects model-based error measures.  BLS uses
a 90-percent confidence level in determining whether changes or differences
in subnational unemployment rates and employment-population ratios are sta-
tistically significant.  Data for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly
household survey similar to the CPS and error measures are not available.
Model-based error measures are available on the BLS Web site at http://www.
bls.gov/lau/lastderr.htm.
   
   Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request.  Voice phone:  202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone number:  1-800-877-8339.


                                  - 4 -


Table A.  States with statistically significant unemployment
rate changes, 2005-06 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------
                             |        |        | Over-the-year
           State             |  2005  |  2006  |  rate change
-----------------------------|--------------------------------
United States ...............|   5.1  |   4.6  |      -0.5    
                             |        |        |              
Arizona .....................|   4.6  |   4.1  |       -.5    
California ..................|   5.4  |   4.9  |       -.5    
Colorado ....................|   5.1  |   4.3  |       -.8    
Connecticut .................|   4.9  |   4.3  |       -.6    
Delaware ....................|   4.0  |   3.6  |       -.4    
Florida......................|   3.8  |   3.3  |       -.5    
Georgia .....................|   5.2  |   4.6  |       -.6    
Idaho .......................|   4.0  |   3.4  |       -.6    
Illinois ....................|   5.7  |   4.5  |      -1.2    
Iowa ........................|   4.3  |   3.7  |       -.6    
Kansas ......................|   5.1  |   4.5  |       -.6    
Louisiana ...................|   6.7  |   4.0  |      -2.7    
Mississippi .................|   7.8  |   6.8  |      -1.0    
Montana .....................|   3.9  |   3.2  |       -.7    
Nebraska ....................|   3.9  |   3.0  |       -.9    
New Mexico ..................|   5.3  |   4.2  |      -1.1    
New York ....................|   5.0  |   4.5  |       -.5    
North Carolina ..............|   5.2  |   4.8  |       -.4    
Oregon ......................|   6.2  |   5.4  |       -.8    
South Dakota ................|   3.7  |   3.2  |       -.5    
Texas .......................|   5.4  |   4.9  |       -.5    
Utah ........................|   4.1  |   2.9  |      -1.2    
Virginia ....................|   3.5  |   3.0  |       -.5    
Washington ..................|   5.5  |   5.0  |       -.5    
Wyoming .....................|   3.7  |   3.2  |       -.5    
--------------------------------------------------------------


                                  - 5 -


Table B.  States with unemployment rates significantly
different from that of the U.S., 2006 annual averages
------------------------------------------------------
              State          |           2006         
-----------------------------|------------------------
United States................|           4.6          
                             |                        
Alabama .....................|           3.6          
Alaska ......................|           6.7          
Arizona .....................|           4.1          
Arkansas ....................|           5.3          
California ..................|           4.9          
Delaware ....................|           3.6          
District of Columbia ........|           6.0          
Florida .....................|           3.3          
Hawaii ......................|           2.4          
Idaho .......................|           3.4          
Iowa ........................|           3.7          
Kentucky ....................|           5.7          
Maryland ....................|           3.9          
Michigan.....................|           6.9          
Minnesota ...................|           4.0          
Mississippi .................|           6.8          
Montana .....................|           3.2          
Nebraska ....................|           3.0          
Nevada ......................|           4.2          
New Hampshire ...............|           3.4          
North Dakota ................|           3.2          
Ohio ........................|           5.5          
Oklahoma ....................|           4.0          
Oregon ......................|           5.4          
Rhode Island ................|           5.1          
South Carolina ..............|           6.5          
South Dakota ................|           3.2          
Tennessee ...................|           5.2          
Texas .......................|           4.9          
Utah ........................|           2.9          
Vermont .....................|           3.6          
Virginia ....................|           3.0          
Wyoming .....................|           3.2          
------------------------------------------------------


                                  - 6 -


Table C.  States with statistically significant employment-
population ratio changes, 2005-06 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------------------
                             |        |        | Over-the-year
           State             |  2005  |  2006  |  rate change
-----------------------------|--------------------------------
United States ...............|  62.7  |  63.1  |       0.4    
                             |        |        |              
Alabama .....................|  58.8  |  59.9  |       1.1    
Colorado ....................|  68.6  |  69.9  |       1.3    
Connecticut .................|  64.0  |  64.7  |        .7    
Florida .....................|  60.1  |  61.1  |       1.0    
Illinois ....................|  62.9  |  64.5  |       1.6    
Iowa ........................|  68.4  |  69.4  |       1.0    
Kentucky ....................|  58.6  |  59.3  |        .7    
Louisiana ...................|  58.5  |  59.2  |        .7    
Maryland ....................|  65.9  |  67.0  |       1.1    
Mississippi .................|  56.7  |  56.0  |       -.7    
Montana .....................|  63.7  |  64.7  |       1.0    
Nevada ......................|  64.3  |  65.4  |       1.1    
New Mexico ..................|  60.1  |  60.8  |        .7    
New York ....................|  59.7  |  60.2  |        .5    
North Carolina ..............|  62.4  |  63.2  |        .8    
Ohio ........................|  62.8  |  63.2  |        .4    
Rhode Island ................|  64.0  |  65.0  |       1.0    
Tennessee ...................|  60.1  |  60.8  |        .7    
Utah ........................|  68.5  |  70.1  |       1.6    
Vermont .....................|  68.4  |  69.2  |        .8    
Virginia ....................|  66.2  |  66.8  |        .6    
Wyoming .....................|  68.1  |  69.1  |       1.0    
--------------------------------------------------------------


                                  - 7 -


Table D.  States with employment-population ratios
significantly different from that of the U.S.,
2006 annual averages
--------------------------------------------------
              State          |         2006       
-----------------------------|--------------------
United States................|         63.1       
                             |                    
Alabama .....................|         59.9       
Alaska ......................|         66.8       
Arkansas ....................|         60.2       
California ..................|         62.1       
Colorado ....................|         69.9       
Connecticut .................|         64.7       
Delaware ....................|         64.4       
Florida .....................|         61.1       
Georgia .....................|         64.8       
Hawaii ......................|         64.8       
Idaho .......................|         66.2       
Illinois ....................|         64.5       
Iowa ........................|         69.4       
Kansas ......................|         67.0       
Kentucky ....................|         59.3       
Louisiana ...................|         59.2       
Maryland ....................|         67.0       
Michigan ....................|         60.7       
Minnesota ...................|         70.6       
Mississippi .................|         56.0       
Montana .....................|         64.7       
Nebraska ....................|         70.4       
Nevada ......................|         65.4       
New Hampshire ...............|         68.4       
New Mexico ..................|         60.8       
New York ....................|         60.2       
North Dakota ................|         70.3       
Oklahoma ....................|         61.2       
Oregon ......................|         61.8       
Pennsylvania ................|         61.5       
Rhode Island ................|         65.0       
South Carolina ..............|         60.1       
South Dakota ................|         70.3       
Tennessee ...................|         60.8       
Utah ........................|         70.1       
Vermont .....................|         69.2       
Virginia ....................|         66.8       
West Virginia ...............|         52.8       
Wisconsin ...................|         67.5       
Wyoming .....................|         69.1       
--------------------------------------------------





Table 1.  Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and over by region, division, and state, 
2005-06 annual averages
 
(Numbers in thousands)
                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                     
                                    Population      Civilian labor       Employed         Unemployed     Unemployment                
                                                        force                                                rate     Error range of 
  Region, division, and state                                                                                         rate, 2006 (1) 
                                                                                                                                     
                                  2005     2006     2005     2006     2005     2006      2005     2006    2005   2006                
                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                     
     United States.............  226,082  228,815  149,320  151,428  141,730  144,427    7,591    7,001    5.1    4.6   4.6   -   4.7
                                                                                                                                     
Northeast......................   42,638   42,866   27,716   27,958   26,381   26,678    1,335    1,280    4.8    4.6   4.4   -   4.7
   New England.................   11,188   11,253    7,552    7,635    7,199    7,286      353      349    4.7    4.6   4.3   -   4.8
      Connecticut..............    2,708    2,728    1,823    1,844    1,734    1,765       88       79    4.9    4.3   3.9   -   4.7
      Maine....................    1,053    1,061      703      711      669      679       34       33    4.8    4.6   4.1   -   5.0
      Massachusetts............    5,056    5,078    3,374    3,404    3,211    3,235      163      170    4.8    5.0   4.5   -   5.5
      New Hampshire............    1,028    1,041      730      737      703      712       26       25    3.6    3.4   3.1   -   3.7
      Rhode Island.............      843      842      569      577      540      548       29       30    5.1    5.1   4.7   -   5.6
      Vermont..................      499      503      354      361      341      348       12       13    3.4    3.6   3.2   -   4.0
                                                                                                                                     
   Middle Atlantic.............   31,450   31,613   20,164   20,323   19,182   19,392      982      931    4.9    4.6   4.4   -   4.8
      New Jersey...............    6,721    6,767    4,455    4,518    4,256    4,309      199      209    4.5    4.6   4.2   -   5.0
      New York.................   15,011   15,070    9,430    9,499    8,960    9,073      470      426    5.0    4.5   4.2   -   4.7
      Pennsylvania.............    9,717    9,776    6,279    6,306    5,966    6,010      313      296    5.0    4.7   4.4   -   5.0
                                                                                                                                     
Midwest........................   50,545   50,934   34,495   34,829   32,624   33,102    1,871    1,727    5.4    5.0   4.8   -   5.1
   East North Central..........   35,378   35,620   23,708   23,963   22,328   22,682    1,380    1,281    5.8    5.3   5.1   -   5.6
      Illinois.................    9,716    9,799    6,484    6,613    6,113    6,316      371      298    5.7    4.5   4.1   -   4.9
      Indiana..................    4,781    4,830    3,227    3,271    3,055    3,109      173      163    5.3    5.0   4.5   -   5.5
      Michigan.................    7,760    7,796    5,072    5,081    4,726    4,730      346      351    6.8    6.9   6.4   -   7.4
      Ohio.....................    8,835    8,870    5,892    5,934    5,547    5,609      345      325    5.9    5.5   5.0   -   5.9
      Wisconsin................    4,285    4,325    3,033    3,063    2,887    2,918      146      145    4.8    4.7   4.3   -   5.1
                                                                                                                                     
   West North Central..........   15,168   15,315   10,787   10,866   10,296   10,420      491      446    4.6    4.1   3.9   -   4.3
      Iowa.....................    2,292    2,310    1,640    1,664    1,569    1,603       71       61    4.3    3.7   3.3   -   4.1
      Kansas...................    2,073    2,090    1,464    1,466    1,389    1,400       75       66    5.1    4.5   4.1   -   4.9
      Minnesota................    3,951    3,996    2,916    2,939    2,797    2,822      119      117    4.1    4.0   3.6   -   4.3
      Missouri.................    4,443    4,490    3,008    3,032    2,848    2,886      160      147    5.3    4.8   4.3   -   5.4
      Nebraska.................    1,332    1,343      978      974      940      945       38       29    3.9    3.0   2.6   -   3.3
      North Dakota.............      491      493      354      358      342      346       12       12    3.4    3.2   2.9   -   3.6
      South Dakota.............      586      593      427      431      412      417       16       14    3.7    3.2   2.9   -   3.5
                                                                                                                                     
South..........................   81,486   82,866   52,958   53,991   50,325   51,587    2,633    2,404    5.0    4.5   4.3   -   4.6
   South Atlantic..............   43,108   43,941   28,158   28,893   26,882   27,714    1,276    1,179    4.5    4.1   3.9   -   4.2
      Delaware.................      647      659      433      440      416      425       17       16    4.0    3.6   3.2   -   4.0
      District of Columbia.....      466      468      314      316      294      297       20       19    6.5    6.0   5.4   -   6.6
      Florida..................   13,929   14,221    8,711    8,989    8,376    8,693      335      296    3.8    3.3   3.1   -   3.5
      Georgia..................    6,792    6,978    4,622    4,742    4,384    4,522      238      220    5.2    4.6   4.2   -   5.0
      Maryland.................    4,279    4,319    2,943    3,009    2,821    2,893      122      117    4.2    3.9   3.6   -   4.2
      North Carolina...........    6,587    6,731    4,340    4,465    4,113    4,251      227      214    5.2    4.8   4.4   -   5.2
      South Carolina...........    3,244    3,309    2,079    2,126    1,940    1,988      140      138    6.7    6.5   5.9   -   7.1
      Virginia.................    5,717    5,804    3,922    3,999    3,786    3,879      136      120    3.5    3.0   2.7   -   3.3
      West Virginia............    1,447    1,453      794      807      754      767       40       40    5.0    4.9   4.3   -   5.6
                                                                                                                                     
   East South Central..........   13,455   13,623    8,389    8,536    7,921    8,097      468      439    5.6    5.1   4.8   -   5.5
      Alabama..................    3,496    3,542    2,140    2,200    2,057    2,121       83       79    3.9    3.6   2.9   -   4.3
      Kentucky.................    3,208    3,242    1,999    2,039    1,879    1,922      120      117    6.0    5.7   5.1   -   6.3
      Mississippi..............    2,163    2,176    1,330    1,307    1,226    1,219      103       89    7.8    6.8   6.0   -   7.6
      Tennessee................    4,589    4,663    2,920    2,990    2,758    2,836      162      155    5.6    5.2   4.7   -   5.7
                                                                                                                                     
   West South Central..........   24,922   25,301   16,410   16,562   15,522   15,776      889      786    5.4    4.7   4.5   -   5.0
      Arkansas.................    2,120    2,149    1,345    1,365    1,277    1,293       68       72    5.1    5.3   4.7   -   5.9
      Louisiana................    3,314    3,229    2,077    1,990    1,938    1,910      139       80    6.7    4.0   3.3   -   4.7
      Oklahoma.................    2,670    2,699    1,705    1,720    1,629    1,651       76       69    4.4    4.0   3.5   -   4.5
      Texas....................   16,804   17,224   11,283   11,487   10,677   10,922      606      566    5.4    4.9   4.6   -   5.2
                                                                                                                                     
West...........................   51,449   52,405   34,179   34,816   32,411   33,216    1,768    1,600    5.2    4.6   4.5   -   4.7
   Mountain....................   15,236   15,669   10,325   10,698    9,851   10,278      473      420    4.6    3.9   3.7   -   4.1
      Arizona..................    4,457    4,625    2,859    2,977    2,727    2,854      132      123    4.6    4.1   3.6   -   4.6
      Colorado.................    3,552    3,630    2,568    2,652    2,437    2,537      131      115    5.1    4.3   4.0   -   4.7
      Idaho....................    1,063    1,093      727      749      698      724       29       26    4.0    3.4   2.9   -   3.9
      Montana..................      728      739      483      494      464      478       19       16    3.9    3.2   2.7   -   3.7
      Nevada...................    1,831    1,897    1,230    1,295    1,178    1,241       52       54    4.2    4.2   3.8   -   4.6
      New Mexico...............    1,444    1,472      915      935      867      896       48       40    5.3    4.2   3.7   -   4.8
      Utah.....................    1,768    1,815    1,264    1,311    1,212    1,273       52       38    4.1    2.9   2.6   -   3.3
      Wyoming..................      393      399      278      285      268      276       10        9    3.7    3.2   2.8   -   3.6
                                                                                                                                     
   Pacific.....................   36,214   36,736   23,855   24,118   22,560   22,938    1,295    1,180    5.4    4.9   4.7   -   5.1
      Alaska...................      477      485      342      347      318      324       24       23    6.9    6.7   6.0   -   7.4
      California...............   27,096   27,438   17,740   17,902   16,782   17,029      958      873    5.4    4.9   4.6   -   5.1
      Hawaii...................      956      969      631      643      614      628       17       15    2.7    2.4   2.0   -   2.7
      Oregon...................    2,849    2,906    1,870    1,899    1,755    1,796      116      103    6.2    5.4   4.9   -   5.9
      Washington...............    4,835    4,938    3,270    3,327    3,090    3,160      181      166    5.5    5.0   4.5   -   5.5
                                                                                                                                     
Puerto Rico....................    2,957    2,982    1,410    1,407    1,250    1,261      160      146   11.3   10.4         NA     

  1 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded data.
  NA = Data not available.
  NOTE:  Data refer to place of residence.  Unemployment rates are based on unrounded levels.  Data for subnational areas reflect
revised population controls and model reestimation.  As a result, they will not add to U.S. totals.  Data for Puerto Rico are derived
from a monthly household survey similar to the Current Population Survey.





Table 2.  Employment-population ratios of persons 16 years of age and over by region, division,
and state, 2005-06 annual averages

(Percent)
                                                                                            
                                   Employment-population                                    
                                           ratio (1)      Over-the-         Error range of  
  Region, division, and state                               year       employment-population
                                                           change          ratio 2006 (2)   
                                      2005       2006                                       
                                                                                            
     United States ............       62.7       63.1        0.4          62.9    -    63.3
                                                                                           
Northeast......................       61.9       62.2         .3          61.8    -    62.7
   New England.................       64.3       64.7         .4          64.0    -    65.4
      Connecticut..............       64.0       64.7         .7          63.5    -    65.9
      Maine....................       63.5       64.0         .5          62.8    -    65.2
      Massachusetts............       63.5       63.7         .2          62.6    -    64.8
      New Hampshire............       68.4       68.4         .0          67.4    -    69.4
      Rhode Island.............       64.0       65.0        1.0          63.9    -    66.1
      Vermont..................       68.4       69.2         .8          68.1    -    70.3
                                                                                           
   Middle Atlantic.............       61.0       61.3         .3          60.8    -    61.9
      New Jersey...............       63.3       63.7         .4          62.7    -    64.6
      New York.................       59.7       60.2         .5          59.6    -    60.9
      Pennsylvania.............       61.4       61.5         .1          60.7    -    62.3
                                                                                           
Midwest........................       64.5       65.0         .5          64.6    -    65.4
   East North Central..........       63.1       63.7         .6          63.2    -    64.2
      Illinois.................       62.9       64.5        1.6          63.5    -    65.4
      Indiana..................       63.9       64.4         .5          63.0    -    65.8
      Michigan.................       60.9       60.7        -.2          59.7    -    61.6
      Ohio.....................       62.8       63.2         .4          62.4    -    64.1
      Wisconsin................       67.4       67.5         .1          66.1    -    68.8
                                                                                           
   West North Central..........       67.9       68.0         .1          67.4    -    68.6
      Iowa.....................       68.4       69.4        1.0          68.3    -    70.5
      Kansas...................       67.0       67.0         .0          65.9    -    68.1
      Minnesota................       70.8       70.6        -.2          69.4    -    71.8
      Missouri.................       64.1       64.3         .2          62.9    -    65.6
      Nebraska.................       70.6       70.4        -.2          69.3    -    71.5
      North Dakota.............       69.7       70.3         .6          68.6    -    71.9
      South Dakota.............       70.2       70.3         .1          69.1    -    71.5
                                                                                           
South..........................       61.8       62.3         .5          61.9    -    62.6
   South Atlantic..............       62.4       63.1         .7          62.6    -    63.5
      Delaware.................       64.2       64.4         .2          63.3    -    65.6
      District of Columbia.....       63.1       63.4         .3          62.1    -    64.7
      Florida..................       60.1       61.1        1.0          60.2    -    62.0
      Georgia..................       64.5       64.8         .3          63.8    -    65.8
      Maryland.................       65.9       67.0        1.1          66.1    -    67.9
      North Carolina...........       62.4       63.2         .8          62.1    -    64.2
      South Carolina...........       59.8       60.1         .3          59.0    -    61.1
      Virginia.................       66.2       66.8         .6          65.9    -    67.8
      West Virginia............       52.1       52.8         .7          51.2    -    54.4
                                                                                           
   East South Central..........       58.9       59.4         .5          58.6    -    60.3
      Alabama..................       58.8       59.9        1.1          58.2    -    61.5
      Kentucky.................       58.6       59.3         .7          58.0    -    60.6
      Mississippi..............       56.7       56.0        -.7          54.3    -    57.7
      Tennessee................       60.1       60.8         .7          59.6    -    62.0
                                                                                           
   West South Central..........       62.3       62.4         .1          61.7    -    63.0
      Arkansas.................       60.2       60.2         .0          59.0    -    61.4
      Louisiana................       58.5       59.2         .7          57.5    -    60.8
      Oklahoma.................       61.0       61.2         .2          59.8    -    62.5
      Texas....................       63.5       63.4        -.1          62.7    -    64.1
                                                                                           
West...........................       63.0       63.4         .4          63.0    -    63.7
   Mountain....................       64.7       65.6         .9          65.0    -    66.2
      Arizona..................       61.2       61.7         .5          60.3    -    63.1
      Colorado.................       68.6       69.9        1.3          68.4    -    71.4
      Idaho....................       65.7       66.2         .5          64.8    -    67.6
      Montana..................       63.7       64.7        1.0          63.4    -    66.1
      Nevada...................       64.3       65.4        1.1          64.3    -    66.5
      New Mexico...............       60.1       60.8         .7          59.8    -    61.9
      Utah.....................       68.5       70.1        1.6          68.7    -    71.6
      Wyoming..................       68.1       69.1        1.0          67.7    -    70.4
                                                                                           
   Pacific.....................       62.3       62.4         .1          62.0    -    62.9
      Alaska...................       66.8       66.8         .0          65.0    -    68.5
      California...............       61.9       62.1         .2          61.6    -    62.5
      Hawaii...................       64.3       64.8         .5          63.6    -    66.1
      Oregon...................       61.6       61.8         .2          60.8    -    62.8
      Washington...............       63.9       64.0         .1          63.0    -    65.0
                                                                                           
Puerto Rico....................       42.3       42.3         .0                  NA       

  1 Employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years of age and
over.
  2 Error ranges are shown at the 90-percent confidence level and are based on unrounded
data.
  NA = Data not available.
  NOTE:  Data refer to place of residence.  Employment-population ratios are based on
unrounded levels.  Data for subnational areas reflect revised population controls and model
reestimation.  Data for Puerto Rico are derived from a monthly household survey similar to 
the Current Population Survey.