44 states report unemployment up

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Unemployment rose in 44 states in July while rates went down in two states and the District of Columbia compared to June, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday.

Compared with 2011, however, 44 states saw jobless rates decrease and four experienced increases, Labor said.

Nationally, unemployment in July stood at 8.3 percent.

Nevada has the highest unemployment rate at 12 percent, followed by Rhode Island and California at 10.8 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively.

North Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate at 3 percent.

The largest month-to-month increase in employment was in California (up 25,200), followed by Michigan (up 21,800) and Virginia (up 21,300). The largest decreases were in New Jersey (down 12,000), followed by Missouri (down 7,700) and Illinois (down 7,100).

On a percentage basis Vermont experienced the biggest increase (0.8 percent) while Alaska experienced the largest decrease (1 percent).

The highest regional unemployment rate was in the West (9.4 percent) and the lowest was in the Midwest (7.5 percent).