Unemployment Rate By State

The state unemployment data from the BLS is likely significantly flawed but it makes sense to visualize it nonetheless. The chart below demonstrates both the monthly change in unemployment (April - May 2009) as well as the year-over-year increase in state unemployment (vs. May 2008). Notably, Michigan was in a world of pain even before the bankruprtcy of GM and Chrysler. The green shoot: seems cattle ranchers are in high demand in N/S Dakota and Wyoming.