Three states held double-digit unemployment rates in February, down from nine one year ago, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Nevada (12.3%), Rhode Island (11%) and California (10.9%) hold the highest rates in the country as of February.
One year ago, Florida (now at 9.4%), Georgia (9.1%), Kentucky (8.7%), Michigan (8.8%), Oregon (8.8%), and South Carolina (9.1%) were on the double-digit list.
Nevada and California each shed roughly two percentage points from their highs during the recession, but Rhode Island job numbers remained frustratingly stagnant. The Ocean State high was 11.9% in January 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Over the last year, California added more than 127,300 jobs, trailing only Texas (273,000) and New York (141,300).
Jobs are still leaking out of Nevada, which held the highest foreclosure rate every month for the past four years. According to the bureau, the state lost 12,800 jobs from the month before, the largest slip in the country February.
The national unemployment rate stayed at 8.3% from the month before, but down from 9% one year prior.
jprior@housingwire.com
