Unemployment down in 45 states

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Forty-five states had their unemployment rates drop from October to November, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday.

The monthly report that breaks employment statistics into a state-by-state report said the other five states -- Indiana, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Rhode Island and South Dakota -- had no change in the unemployment rate.

Non-farm jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20 and in the District of Columbia.

North Carolina created the most new jobs in November -- 30,600, followed by Florida with 24,500 new jobs and Texas with 22,100.

The largest decline was in New York, which lost 33,500 jobs in November. After that, Indiana lost 9,000 and New Jersey lost 8,100.

Jobs in the East Coast states were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, which punched its way through the region in late October.

In spite of that, "the Pacific [region] continued to report the highest jobless rate, 9.3 percent in November," the Labor Department said.

Nevada's unemployment rate in November was the highest in the nation at 10.8 percent.

Close behind Nevada, Rhode Island's rate was 10.4 percent in November.

North Dakota continues to have the lowest rate, 3.1 percent.

The national unemployment rate is 7.7 percent.

In November, 25 states had rates "significantly lower" while nine states had "measurably higher rates" and 16 states had unemployment near the national rate, the department said.