WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- More than half the states experienced rising unemployment rates in June compared to May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday.
The bureau said the unemployment rate rose in 28 states, dropped in 11 and stayed stagnant in 11 others and in the District of Columbia.
Although 28 states saw joblessness grow from May to June, 37 states and the nation's capital saw unemployment rates decline from June 2012 with seven others experiencing 12-month increases.
There were also more jobs at the end of the month in 37 states with increases of 30,200 in California, 19,100 in Pennsylvania and 17,500 in Wisconsin.
In contrast, there were 16,500 fewer jobs in Tennessee, 12,500 fewer in Ohio and 11,400 fewer in New York in June, compared to May, the bureau said.
The national unemployment rate in June was 7.6 percent, but among states, the rate ranges from 3.1 percent in North Dakota to 9.6 percent in Nevada.
The top five highest unemployment rates were in Nevada at 9.6 percent, Illinois at 9.2 percent, Mississippi at 9 percent, Rhode Island at 8.9 percent and North Carolina at 8.8 percent.
The five lowest rates were posted by North Dakota, South Dakota at 3.9 percent, Nebraska at 4 percent, Vermont at 4.4 percent and Wyoming, Hawaii and Iowa at 4.6 percent.
