July’s jobs reports showed a net increase of more than 160,000 jobs in July, but on the state level things were far more tenuous:
Unemployment worsened in most states last month.
While the July unemployment figure rose a tenth of a point from June to 8.3 percent, the government says 44 states saw their jobless rates increase.
These include Nevada, which continues to have the highest jobless rate in the nation, at 12 percent. But when compared to a year ago, the same number of states, 44, have lower unemployment, and even Nevada is in this group.
One year ago, the jobless rate in Nevada was 13.8 percent.
The state with the most job growth continues to be California, with more than 25,000 jobs added between June and July. Over the last year, the nation’s largest state, hit hard by the housing collapse, has had a net gain of a thousand jobs a day.
Still, California has the third highest unemployment rate in the country, at 10.7 percent.
“I’m looking for anything,” said a woman named Pam at the Verdugo Jobs Center in Glendale, CA. “At my age, no one wants to hire me.”
She says she has done secretarial work and worked in merchadising. Now she’s hoping to become a house cleaner.
“It’s a shame,” said Albert Roperson, a former loan officer. “I have a part time job, but it doesn’t pay the bills. You dig what I’m saying?”
A dozen states considered “swing states” saw their rates inch up from June to July.
Along with Nevada, other states with large monthly jumps include Wisconsin, home of GOP Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan (7.3 percent), Michigan (9 percent), Pennsylvania (7.9 percent), and New Hampshire (5.3 percent). Still, most swing states enjoy a rate lower than the national average.
None of this bodes well for the jobs figures going forward, of course, and the fact that several swing states appear to see their job markets softening could be an important factor in the upcoming election.
