Hawaii posted the lowest unemployment rate among all states in July at 2.1%, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. North Dakota and Iowa were next, both at 2.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis, followed by New Hampshire at 2.7%.

Alaska recorded the highest jobless rate among all states at 6.9% in July.

The BLS reported unemployment rates fell in July in 11 states; the largest were 0.2 percentage-point decreases in Alaska, Georgia, New Mexico, New York and South Carolina.

Two states had month-over-month rate increases: Louisiana of 0.2 percentage point and Maine of 0.1 percentage point.