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Rhode Island, Michigan post highest jobless

November 21, 2008

Rhode Island and Michigan tied for the highest state unemployment rates in October at 9.3% each, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. California was the next highest at 8.2%.

Seven other states had jobless rates of more than 7.0%. They included South Carolina, 8.0%; Nevada, 7.6%; Alaska, 7.4%; Illinois, Ohio and Oregon with 7.3% each; and Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee with 7.0% each. The District of Columbia had a jobless rate of 7.4%.

South Dakota tied with Wyoming for the lowest jobless rate among states at 3.3%. North Dakota came next at 3.4%.

Year over year, 47 states and the District of Columbia reported higher unemployment rates, two states were unchanged and unemployment was down in one state.