Data & Analysis

Labor Markets - June 2010

Employment in both the District and the nation improved as the rate of job losses continued to slow in May.

The Sixth District added 72,600 jobs in May.

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all Sixth District states added jobs in May.
• Job gains in May were boosted by government employment.
• Excluding government payrolls, all District states except Florida posted small gains. Florida, excluding government, lost 11,800 jobs.

Employment momentum continued to improve in all Sixth District states.

Explanation of employment momentum charts

Source: BLS, FRBA

The unemployment rate for the Sixth District declined to 10.6 percent in May, still above the national rate of 9.7 percent (on a seasonally adjusted basis).

• The BLS reported that the unemployment rate declined in all Sixth District states except Louisiana, where it increased slightly.
• Louisiana, however, continues to be the only District state with an unemployment rate below the national average.

Initial unemployment claims were mixed across the District.

• In late May and early June, claims declined slightly in Georgia and Tennessee and increased slightly in Florida and Alabama, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Claims in Mississippi and Louisiana remained relatively flat.

Most Sixth District states experienced slight declines in continuing claims.

All District states added jobs in May. Nationwide, 41 states added jobs.

Source: BLS, FRBA

Most District unemployment rates remain above the national average and among the highest in the nation.

Source: BLS, FRBA

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