December Unemployment Rises in All States

Unemployment rates rose in all 50 states during December as the recession forces companies to trim costs and unload workers.

A Labor Department report breaking down jobless rates among the states showed unemployment was highest in car-making state Michigan, at 10.6 percent. Rhode Island was second, at 10.0 percent.

Four additional states recorded rates of 9.0 percent or higher: South Carolina, 9.5 percent; California, 9.3 percent; Nevada, 9.1 percent; and Oregon, 9.0 percent.

Wyoming posted the lowest unemployment rate, 3.4 percent, followed by North Dakota at 3.5 percent.

"Regional and state unemployment rates were universally higher in December," the report said. "All 50 states and the District of Columbia recorded both over-the-month and over-the-year unemployment rate increases."

The Labor Department also reported the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent from 6.8 percent during December. It also said non-farm payroll employment increased by 524,000 jobs.

The state-by-state data showed non-farm payrolls increased in just one state and the District of Columbia. Payrolls fell in 48 states. One state was unchanged.

The largest over-the-month decrease was reported in California, down by 78,200 jobs.