State Construction Employment - March

State unemployment rates were nearly all higher in March," the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on April 17, as 46 states recorded over-the-month unemployment rate increases, North Dakota and the District of Columbia registered decreases, and Georgia, New York and Rhode Island had no change. Over the year, jobless rates were up everywhere. In March 2009, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 48 states and DC and rose slightly in Alaska and Louisiana. Construction employment rose by less than 1% in March in New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont, and fell everywhere else. Compared to March 2008, construction employment rose only in Louisiana, by 5%, and fell everywhere else. The largest year-over-year declines were in Arizona, -28%; Connecticut, -22%; Florida, -21%; Vermont, North Carolina and Oregon, -19% each.