Tale of two economies: Red states roaring, blue states beset by high unemployment
Of the 31 states that had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. national average of 6.1%, the overwhelming majority, 26, are Republican-led states.
By The Center Square Staff
Tale of two economies: Red states roaring, blue states beset by high unemployment | Just The News
Republican-led states and Vermont reported the lowest unemployment rates in April, according to a new report by the U.S. Commerce Department. States led by Democratic governors recorded the highest jobless rates, according to the report.
Unemployment rates were lower in April in 12 states and the District of Columbia and stable in 38 states, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
States with the highest unemployment rates in April were Hawaii (8.5%), California (8.3%), New Mexico and New York (both at 8.2%), and Connecticut (8.1%).
All five states with the highest unemployment are run by Democratic trifectas, meaning Democrats control the governor's office and both houses of the state legislature.
The four states with the lowest jobless rates in April were all run by Republican trifectas: Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah, with 2.8% each. Vermont, with a Republican governor and a Democratic-controlled state House and Senate, ranked fifth-best with an unemployment rate of 2.9%.
Overall, 31 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. national average of 6.1%. The majority, 26, are Republican-led states. Of the 19 states and the District of Columbia with jobless rates higher than the national average, 14 are led by Democrats.
However,
the three largest unemployment rate decreases year-over-year from April 2020 to April 2021 occurred in blue states: Nevada, (down 21.5%), Michigan (down 18.7%), and Hawaii (down 13.4%). Ten other states also saw declines of 10% or more.
The report came out as the Dallas Federal Reserve reported lowered expectations for May job growth.....