Unemployment Rate in California was 6.1

State unemployment rates dropped in 29 states and Puerto Rico in August. Ten states saw increased unemployment, while rates remained steady in 11 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Compared to a year ago, unemployment has declined in 41 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Unemployment is higher in seven states, while rates remained unchanged in two states.

In August, 32 states experienced job growth, the largest of which occurred in California, with 36,200 new jobs. Florida created 19,600 new jobs, followed by Ohio, with 14,600 new positions. New York and Texas lost the most jobs, each down by 13,700 jobs.

West Virginia again led the states with the highest unemployment rate, at 7.6 percent. West Virginia was the only state to see a statistically significant loss of jobs compared to last year, down by 19,500 positions over the year.

Nebraska had the lowest unemployment rate, at 2.8 percent, followed by North Dakota, at 2.9 percent.

State unemployment figures for September will be released on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015.

August 2015 State Unemployment Rates

All states where unemployment rates dropped

This article was originally published in NCSL and can be found HERE.