Western region accounts for 5 of 10 weakest state labor markets

For the first time in the recession, all 50 states lost jobs over the year in September, reports Lee McPheters, editor of Economy@W. P. Carey. Before the latest figures were released, North Dakota had continued to add jobs year over year, albeit at a slowing pace. But the September numbers show North Dakota non-farm jobs declining by 300 compared to a year ago. Nationally, the economy lost 5.8 million jobs over the year, a decrease of 4.2 percent.

For the first time in the recession, all 50 states lost jobs over the year in September. Before the latest figures were released, North Dakota had continued to add jobs year over year, albeit at a slowing pace. But the September numbers show North Dakota non-farm jobs declining by 300 compared to a year ago.

Nationally, the economy lost 5.8 million jobs over the year, a decrease of 4.2 percent. Several Western states lost jobs at a faster pace than the nation overall. Arizona's rate of decrease was 7.5 percent, ranking the Grand Canyon State at the bottom of all labor markets in the country for the third month in a row. The state has lost jobs year over year for 20 consecutive months. Others among the bottom 10 weakest labor markets were Nevada (48), Oregon (47), Idaho (44) and California (41).

These states, along with Colorado, reported larger percentage drops in employment than the nation. Wyoming's percentage loss was 4.2 percent, similar to the U.S. figure. Last year at this time, Wyoming was adding employment at a 3.4 percent growth rate and ranked first in the nation in job creation. Wyoming has now lost jobs over the year for the past seven months.

In the "jobless recovery" period after the recession of 2001, the state lost jobs over the year only once, in March of 2003. Although suffering job losses, Texas and Montana labor markets have held up better than the nation as a whole. Education and health services are the key sources of employment strength in both states.