In 2006, Hawaii again reported the lowest unemployment rate among the States, 2.4 percent, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
Utah had the next lowest rate, 2.9 percent, followed by Nebraska and Virginia at 3.0 percent each. Twelve additional states registered annual average unemployment rates below 4.0 percent.
Altogether, 20 states had jobless rates that were significantly below the U.S. rate of 4.6 percent, while 12 states and the District of Columbia recorded rates that were appreciably above it. The rates for 18 states were not significantly different from the overall U.S. rate.
This data is from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program. To learn more, see Regional and State Unemployment, 2006 Annual Averages, news release USDL 07-0305.
