Thirty states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment increase

In January 2010, thirty states and the District of Columbia recorded over-the-month unemployment increases according to a report released today by the Burea of Labor Statistics (BLS).

9 states registered rate decreases, and 11 states had no rate change and over the year, jobless rates increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In January, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 31 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 18 states, and remained unchanged in 1 state.

Michigan again recorded the highest unemployment rate among the states, 14.3 percent in January. The states with the next highest rates were Nevada, 13.0 percent; Rhode Island, 12.7 percent; South Carolina, 12.6 percent; and California, 12.5 percent.

The rates in California and South Carolina set new series highs, as did the rates in three other states: Florida (11.9 percent), Georgia (10.4 percent), and North Carolina (11.1 percent). The rate in the District of Columbia (12.0 percent) also set a new series high.

Now for the glass half full and the "CNBC-like" cheerleader yippee!
In total, 25 states posted jobless rates "significantly lower" than the U.S. figure of 9.7 percent, 11 states and the District of Columbia had measurably higher rates, and 14 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation.

Let grandpa profile some of the states with a jobless rate "significantly less" and "significantly greater" than the U.S. figure of 9.7% and their respective ranking based on population:
State  Jobless Rate   Rank out of 50 based on population
NE        4.6%                                38th
ND        4.2%                                48th
SD        4.8%                                46th
KS        6.4%                                33rd
IA          6.6%                                30th
MT        6.8%                                44th
OK        6.7%                                28th
VT         6.7%                                49th

MI         14.3%                                8th
NV        13.0%                              35th
RI          12.7%                              43rd
SC        12.6%                              24th
CA        12.5%                                1st

And now for the media twist headlines:

CNNMoney          State Unemployment Picture Brightens
Business Week   Unemployment Decreased in 9 U.S. States in January 
AP                        Nevada's Unemployment Rate remains at 13%
AP                        Indiana Jobless Rate Holds at 9.7% in January
Biz Journals         NC Joblessness Grows in January
Denver Post         Colorado Unemployment Rate Edges up to 7.4%

"Grandpa will have what she and some media members are having"