Unemployment rates were higher in October in 26 states and stable in 24 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Maryland had the lowest jobless rate in October, 1.7 percent. The next lowest rate was in North Dakota, 1.9 percent. Nevada had the highest unemployment rate, 5.4 percent. In total, 26 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 3.9 percent, 4 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 20 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. Twenty-one states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier, 12 states and the District had increases, and 17 states had little change. The national unemployment rate, 3.9 percent, changed little both over the month and over the year.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 1 state and was essentially unchanged in 49 states and the District of Columbia in October. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 34 states and was essentially unchanged in 16 states and the District. . The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+391,500), California (+285,300), and Florida (+278,400). The largest percentage increases occurred in Idaho (+3.5 percent) and Nevada (+3.4 percent), followed by Florida and Texas (+2.9 percent each).