Unemployment rates rose last month in 28 states, fell in eight

The country’s labor market recovery was uneven last month with unemployment rates rising in 28 states and falling in eight, according to figures released Monday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Monday’s data show that 11 states and the District of Columbia with jobless rates higher than the overall U.S. unemployment rate of 7.4%.

California, which released its job report Friday, added 38,100 jobs in July, one of its best showings this year. Still, the state’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 of a percentage point to 8.7%.

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Nationwide, employers added 162,000 net positions last month, but the state job markets turned in mixed performances.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of payroll jobs grew in 32 states but declined in 17. One state, South Dakota, saw no perceptible change in payroll jobs.

Nevada, which shed 10,200 jobs last month, notched the highest unemployment rate in July. Its rate, however, edged down to 9.5% from 9.6% a month earlier.

Illinois had July’s second-highest unemployment rate, 9.2%.

Since July 2012, Texas and California have added the most jobs, 293,000 and 236,400 respectively. During that period, the Golden State’s unemployment rate fell 1.9 percentage points, from 10.6% to 8.7%, the largest drop in the nation.

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