The Bureau of Labor Statistics today released the September state-by-state unemployment rates. Michigan remains the highest in the country at 15.3 percent unemployment. This is the 43rd month in a row that Michigan has been the worst state for finding a job.
While Michigan spent two months this year at a higher rate than Puerto Rico — something that's never happened since the data started being collected in 1976 — the island territory had a bad month in September, increasing its rate from 15.1 percent to 16.3 percent and surpassing Michigan again.
Right-to-Work states continue to have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Nebraska and the Dakotas were the best with rates less than 6 percent. (Track these and other relevant statistics on the Mackinac Center updated Right-to-Work dashboard.)
One positive development in the report was that joblessness fell in 19 states, with Minnesota leading the country by dropping its rate from 8.0 percent to 7.3 percent.
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The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
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