The unemployment rate dropped another half percentage point nationwide to 7.9% in September as the economy added 661,000 jobs — less than half of the job growth reported in August. A report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the employment situation also improved in most states, with 30 each recording lower unemployment rates and higher job numbers. But several states continue to face economic difficulties, and total employment is still down in 48 states compared to a year ago.
Nebraska reported the lowest unemployment rate in September at 3.5%, while New Jersey marked the biggest drop in the unemployment rate — from 11.1% to 6.7% — compared to August. The unemployment rate declined by more than two percentage points in New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Missouri.
