News release: “In 2011, annual average unemployment rates declined in 48 states and rose in 2 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios decreased in 24 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 19 states, and were unchanged in 7 states. The U.S. jobless rate in 2011 was 8.9 percent, down 0.7 percentage point from the prior year. The national employment-population ratio continued to trend down to 58.4 percent in 2011. Regional Unemployment: All four regions posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2011. The Midwest experienced the greatest decline (-1.1 percentage points), followed by the West (-0.6 point) and the Northeast and South (-0.5 point each). The West, at 10.4 percent, registered the only jobless rate significantly higher than that of the U.S. in 2011. The Northeast and Midwest, at 8.2 and 8.4 percent, respectively, both had rates significantly below the national figure. (See table 1.)”>News release: “In 2011, annual average unemployment rates declined in 48 states and rose in 2 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment-population ratios decreased in 24 states and the District of Columbia, increased in 19 states, and were unchanged in 7 states. The U.S. jobless rate in 2011 was 8.9 percent, down 0.7 percentage point from the prior year. The national employment-population ratio continued to trend down to 58.4 percent in 2011. All four regions posted statistically significant unemployment rate decreases in 2011. The Midwest experienced the greatest decline (-1.1 percentage points), followed by the West (-0.6 point) and the Northeast and South (-0.5 point each). The West, at 10.4 percent, registered the only jobless rate significantly higher than that of the U.S. in 2011. The Northeast and Midwest, at 8.2 and 8.4 percent, respectively, both had rates significantly below the national figure.”