Arizona's unemployment rate dropped to 8.7%

Arizona's unemployment rate dropped to 8.7% (Alberta Times) Arizona's January unemployment data released recently was 8.7%. Economists said, 2…

(Alberta Times)

Arizona’s January unemployment data released recently was 8.7%. Economists said the figure for the last month of 2011 was originally 8.7%, but was revised to 9% using new calculation standards. The Labor Department reported that the state lost 34,300 non-farm jobs in January due to downsizing. But economists noted that January's unemployment rate was well below the average during recessions over the past decade. Most of the layoffs are in the private sector, such as retail and service industries. The Labor Department said both industries have a habit of hiring temporary workers during the holiday shopping season. The national average unemployment rate in January was 8.3%, with the lowest state in North Carolina at 3.2%, followed by Nebraska at 4.0%. The highest unemployment rate is in Nevada, at 12.7%. In addition, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico leads the way with 15.1%.