Forty-four states lost jobs in April, led by California where employers slashed 63,700 positions, as the recession took a further toll on U.S. workers.
Trailing California in over-the-month job losses were: Texas, which saw 39,500 jobs vanish; Michigan, which lost 38,400 jobs; and Ohio, where payrolls fell 25,200, according to a U.S. Labor Department report issued today. Louisiana lost 7,000 jobs from March to April. The state is down 8,300 jobs since April 2008.
California’s unemployment rate dipped to 11% last month, fifth-highest in the country. Michigan’s jobless rate was the highest at 12.9%, followed by Oregon at 12%, South Carolina at 11.5% and Rhode Island at 11.1%. In Friday’s state report, Arkansas and Montana tied for the biggest over-the-month payroll gains at 1,500 a piece. They were followed by Florida, which saw an increase of 1,300 jobs. It marked a dose of good news for a state that has been especially hard hit by fallout from the housing collapse. On the hiring front, North Dakota again registered the nation’s lowest unemployment rate—4%. It was followed by Nebraska with a 4.4% jobless rate, Wyoming at 4.5% and South Dakota with 4.8%. Louisiana’s unemployment rate was 6.2% in April; a year earlier it was at 4.1%.
