North Dakota registered the lowest annual average unemployment rate among all states in 2009 at 4.3%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Nebraska posted the second-lowest at 4.6%. It was followed by South Dakota at 4.8%.

Still, annual average unemployment rates rose in all states in 2009 compared with 2008.

Michigan posted the highest unemployment rate increase in 2009, up 5.3% over 2008. Michigan also registered the highest annual average jobless rate among states in 2009 at 13.6%. Nevada recorded the next-highest at 11.8%, and South Carolina was third at 11.7%.

It was the fourth year in a row Michigan posted the highest annual average unemployment rate among states, according to the BLS. Mississippi reported the highest jobless rate among states in 2005 at 7.9% -- it was a year that state suffered the impact of Hurricane Katina.