In more than half the states in the nation, unemployment last month reached its lowest point since the recession officially ended 4.5 years ago.
The recession officially ended in July 2009, though significant concerns remain. Long-term unemployment is historically high, and some economists believe many part-time workers would be working full-time if they could find such work. Some also worry that the unemployment rate is artificially low as would-be workers abandon the job search altogether, disqualifying them from the count.
State | Last time unemployment was this low | December 2013 rate |
Connecticut | 03/2009 | 7.40 |
Mississippi | 02/2009 | 8.00 |
New York | 02/2009 | 7.10 |
Pennsylvania | 02/2009 | 6.90 |
West Virginia | 02/2009 | 5.90 |
Colorado | 01/2009 | 6.20 |
Texas | 01/2009 | 6.00 |
Iowa | 01/2009 | 4.20 |
Maryland | 01/2009 | 6.10 |
New Jersey | 01/2009 | 7.30 |
Delaware | 12/2008 | 6.20 |
Nevada | 12/2008 | 8.80 |
Wisconsin | 12/2008 | 6.20 |
Utah | 12/2008 | 4.10 |
Kansas | 12/2008 | 4.90 |
Washington | 12/2008 | 6.60 |
Indiana | 11/2008 | 6.90 |
Maine | 11/2008 | 6.20 |
Georgia | 11/2008 | 7.40 |
Nebraska | 11/2008 | 3.60 |
Idaho | 11/2008 | 5.70 |
Arizona | 11/2008 | 7.60 |
California | 11/2008 | 8.30 |
Alabama | 11/2008 | 6.10 |
North Carolina | 10/2008 | 6.90 |
Oregon | 09/2008 | 7.00 |
Florida | 07/2008 | 6.20 |
South Carolina | 07/2008 | 6.60 |
Missouri | 07/2008 | 5.90 |