WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly half of U.S. states reported drops in their unemployment rates last month, the best showing since June. But job creation was weak in most areas of the country.
The Labor Department says unemployment fell in 23 states and Washington, D.C., rose in 11 states and was unchanged in 16 during September.
The declines were nearly double the number reported by states in the previous month.
Still, that did little to boost hiring. A survey of employers found that payrolls decreased in 34 states and increased in only 16 states and Washington, D.C. The unemployment rate can fall even as job creation is slow if workers stop searching for jobs and drop out of the labor force. If they aren't looking for work, they aren't counted as unemployed.
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