Share
Eight states, including California, hit record lows for unemployment in March.
That brings the number of states setting marks for low unemployment rates to 14 in the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The BLS has compiled employment figures for individual states since 1976.
“The states hitting new unemployment lows run the ideological gamut, from conservative Texas to liberal California, suggesting a recovery stronger (from the Great Recession) than any particular political persuasion,” analyzed TheHill.com.
California in March matched its record low of 4.3 percent unemployment first set in February. That is about one-third of the 12.3 percent unemployment rate the Golden State experienced at the recession’s height in 2010.
The seven other states achieving record-low unemployment in March were Hawaii (2.1 percent), Maine (2.7 percent), Idaho (2.9 percent), Wisconsin (2.9 percent), Kentucky (4 percent), Oregon (4.1 percent) and Mississippi (4.5 percent).
Hawaii Has Lowest Unemployment Rate, Alaska the Highest
Hawaii’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the nation, BLS said. Joining the Aloha State with unemployment below 3% are Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
The state with the highest unemployment rate is Alaska at 7.3%. The state, which fared better than many others during the recession, traditionally has an unemployment rate above the national average. Alaska set its record low of 6.3 percent unemployment in June 2007.
Fresno County Unemployment Rate Rises to 9.1%
Closer to home, Fresno County’s unemployment rate crept up to 9.1 percent in February after being 8.7% in January. However, the February rate represents a significant improvement from 12 months earlier. The February 2017 unemployment rate was 10.5%.
Because of Fresno County’s economic reliance on agriculture, peak employment traditionally is in the early fall. Reflecting that, the Fresno County unemployment rate dipped to 6.8 percent in September 2017 before beginning a gradual rise.
Note: County-by-county unemployment figures from BLS lag the state-by-state compilations by one month.
The chart graphic has been updated to accurately reflect unemployment numbers published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Gomez Guilty of Murdering Los Hooligans Bass Player
6 hours ago
Biden Says It Was a Mistake to Say He Wanted to Put Trump in a ‘Bull’s-Eye’
6 hours ago
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Appears to Confirm Delay in Aug. 8 Robotaxi Unveil Event to Make Design Change
9 hours ago
Smittcamp Asks Court to Drop His Lawsuit Against Controversial NW Fresno Project
10 hours ago
Measure P Arts Grants Spark Debate and a Meeting Tonight
10 hours ago
Tedford Exits Fresno State Football. Tim Skipper Is the Next Bulldog Up.
10 hours ago
Trump Receives Enough Delegate Votes to Officially be Republicans’ Nominee
11 hours ago
Man Dies After Rescuing His 2 Children in Mississippi River
5 hours ago
Categories
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15173402/A-photo-provided-by-Jesse-Pope-shows-Cody-Jay-Pope-right-with-him-in-2012.-The-authorities-found-the-body-of-Cody-Jay-Pope-a-41-year-old-Minnesota-man-who-had-disappeared-two-days-earlier-after-1024x538.jpg)
Man Dies After Rescuing His 2 Children in Mississippi River
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15150557/AP24197467333843-1024x576.jpg)
Is Inflation Finally Corralled? Powell Says Federal Reserve Believes It’s Close
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15171647/Los-Hooligans-court_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Gomez Guilty of Murdering Los Hooligans Bass Player
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15172819/President-Joe-Biden-arrives-to-speak-to-members-of-the-media-in-Rehoboth-Beach-Del.-about-the-shooting-incident-at-Donald-Trumps-rally-in-Pa.-on-Saturday-July-13-2024.-President-Biden-said-o-1024x538.jpg)
Biden Says It Was a Mistake to Say He Wanted to Put Trump in a ‘Bull’s-Eye’
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15144853/AP24197697589922_-1024x576.jpg)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk Appears to Confirm Delay in Aug. 8 Robotaxi Unveil Event to Make Design Change
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/15120621/lawsuit-against-respiratory-care-facility_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Smittcamp Asks Court to Drop His Lawsuit Against Controversial NW Fresno Project
![The Wines of Fresno: Tony Kirk, Birdstone Winery](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/12152749/Tony-Kirk-Birdstone-Winery-016-1-1024x576.jpg)