Jobless rates up in every state

While some states fared better than others, December was a cruel month for many workers nationwide, and economists predict job losses will continue for the rest of this year.

All 50 states recorded an increase in the jobless rate in December and an overall spike since last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday (Jan. 27). The national unemployment rate rose from 6.8 percent to 7.2 percent — compared with 4.9 percent a year ago.

Find your state’s unemployment rate and compare jobless rates across the nation over time in a new interactive map. Check it out on Stateline.org’s Economy and Business page, where you also can read daily headlines with the latest recession news from all 50 states.

The numbers of people losing jobs last month varied widely from state to state.