| Unemployment rates fell last month in most U.S. states, evidence that the past three months of job gains are boosting most parts of the country. Unemployment rates fell in 29 states, rose in 8 and were unchanged in 13. |
| Job gains were even more widespread. Employers in 42 states added jobs, the most in almost a year. Here are state unemployment rates for February, compared to the previous month and a year earlier: |
| State unemployment rates |
| Figures in percentages |
| Feb. 2012 p Jan. 2012 Feb. 2011 |
| Alabama 7.6 7.8 9.3 |
| Alaska 7.1 7.2 7.7 |
| Arizona 8.7 8.7 9.7 |
| Arkansas 7.6 7.6 8 |
| California 10.9 10.9 12 |
| Colorado 7.8 7.8 8.6 |
| Connecticut 7.8 8 9.2 |
| Delaware 7 7 7.4 |
| Washington, D.C. 9.9 9.9 10 |
| Florida 9.4 9.6 10.8 |
| Georgia 9.1 9.2 9.9 |
| Hawaii 6.4 6.5 6.6 |
| Idaho 8 8.1 8.8 |
| Illinois 9.1 9.4 9.3 |
| Indiana 8.4 8.7 8.9 |
| Iowa 5.3 5.4 6 |
| Kansas 6.1 6.1 6.9 |
| Kentucky 8.7 8.8 9.8 |
| Louisiana 7 6.9 7.6 |
| Maine 7.1 7 7.9 |
| Maryland 6.5 6.5 7.2 |
| Massachusetts 6.9 6.9 7.7 |
| Michigan 8.8 9 10.7 |
| Minnesota 5.7 5.6 6.7 |
| Mississippi 9.5 10 10.5 |
| Missouri 7.4 7.5 8.9 |
| Montana 6.2 6.5 6.9 |
| Nebraska 4 4.1 4.5 |
| Nevada 12.3 12.7 13.6 |
| New Hampshire 5.2 5.1 5.5 |
| New Jersey 9 9 9.3 |
| New Mexico 7.2 7 7.6 |
| New York 8.5 8.3 8.1 |
| North Carolina 9.9 10.2 10.4 |
| North Dakota 3.1 3.2 3.5 |
| Ohio 7.6 7.7 8.9 |
| Oklahoma 6 6.1 6.1 |
| Oregon 8.8 8.8 9.7 |
| Pennsylvania 7.6 7.6 8 |
| Rhode Island 11 10.9 11.3 |
| South Carolina 9.1 9.3 10.5 |
| South Dakota 4.3 4.2 5 |
| Tennessee 8 8.2 9.5 |
| Texas 7.1 7.3 8 |
| Utah 5.7 5.7 7.3 |
| Vermont 4.9 5.1 5.9 |
| Virginia 5.7 5.8 6.3 |
| Washington 8.2 8.4 9.5 |
| West Virginia 7.2 7.4 8.1 |
| Wisconsin 6.9 6.9 7.6 |
| Wyoming 5.4 5.5 6.2 |