Michigan again recorded the highest unemployment rate in January, followed by Alaska, with most states recording little change in the measure, the Labour Department said on Tuesday.
It was the tenth consecutive month that Michigan, with its heavy auto industry concentration, posted the highest jobless rate, at 7.1 percent, down from 7.4 percent in December. Alaska's rate was 6.5 percent, up from December's 6.3 percent.
Across the country, 27 states and the District of Columbia said their jobless rates rose in January. Six states and the District of Columbia recorded rates significantly higher than the national rate of 5.0 percent, which was the highest in two years.
At the same time, the number of jobs increased in 30 states in January, the department said, and decreased in 18 states and the District of Columbia. California lost the most jobs, at 20,300, followed by New Jersey, at 9,500.
Texas and Illinois recorded the largest gains in payrolls, at 28,000 and 21,900 jobs respectively. Worried about a recession, some members of Congress have proposed providing more unemployment assistance to boost the economy. Others are weighing giving aid to the states.
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