Hawaii and Iowa posted the lowest unemployment rates among all states in November at 2.4% each, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. New Hampshire was next at 2.5%, followed by Idaho at 2.6%.

Alaska recorded the highest jobless rate among all states at 6.3% in November.

Unemployment rates fell in November in six states; Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma and Vermont. All had 0.1 percentage point decreases.

Two states had month-over-month rate increases: Colorado and Hawaii. Both posted 0.1 percentage-point increases.

Separately, the US Department of Labor yesterday reported the US four-week moving average of initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 2,750 to 222,000 last week. The four-week moving average smooths the volatility of the week-to-week numbers; total initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week ended Dec. 15 rose to 214,000, up 8,000 from the previous week’s level.