http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UNEMPLOYMENT_STATES?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=BUSINESS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULTMay 21, 12:03 PM EDT
Agency: Jobless Rates Fall in 11 (of 17 battleground) States
By LEIGH STROPE
AP Labor Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unemployment rates fell in 11 of the 17 battleground states that could decide the presidential election, with Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin showing the biggest declines last month, the Labor Department said Friday.
Four of the battleground states saw jobless rates rise: Arizona, Arkansas, Ohio and Washington. Jobless rates in two battleground states remained the same: New Mexico and Pennsylvania. Overall, unemployment rates were lower in 29 states, higher in 14 states and the District of Columbia, and unchanged in seven states.<snip>
Michigan posted the largest rate drop last month, declining to 6.1 percent from 6.9 percent in March. Wisconsin's rate fell to 4.6 percent from 5.1 percent.<snip>
Ohio, which has lost tens of thousands of jobs, is shaping up to be one of the most important states in the race between Bush and Democrat John Kerry. In 2000, Al Gore lost Ohio by just 3 percentage points even after abandoning his campaign there. Ohio's unemployment rate ticked up to 5.8 percent last month from 5.7 percent in March.<snip>
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U.S. Department of Labor -Percentage of labor force that was unemployed, by state, in March and April 2004:
State March April
Ala. 5.9 5.8
Alaska 7.1 7.1
Ariz. 4.9 5.4
Ark. 5.4 5.6
Calif. 6.6 6.2
Colo. 4.9 5.1
Conn. 4.9 4.5
Del. 3.8 3.8
D.C. 6.9 7.3
Fla. 4.9 4.6
Ga. 3.6 3.8
Hawaii 3.8 3.6
Idaho 4.6 4.4
Ill. 6.0 6.1
Ind. 5.3 4.9
Iowa 4.1 3.9
Kan. 4.7 4.6
Ky. 5.5 5.3
La. 5.5 5.9
Maine 4.9 4.3
Md. 4.0 4.0
Mass. 5.1 4.8
Mich. 6.9 6.1
Minn. 4.8 4.1
Miss. 4.2 5.0
Mo. 5.0 4.7
Mont. 4.2 4.6
Neb. 3.6 3.5
Nev. 4.4 4.3
N.H. 4.0 3.9
N.J. 5.2 5.3
N.M. 5.6 5.6
N.Y. 6.5 6.2
N.C. 5.2 5.3
N.D. 2.9 2.7
Ohio 5.7 5.8
Okla. 4.8 4.7
Ore. 7.2 6.7
Pa. 5.3 5.3
R.I. 5.6 5.7
S.C. 6.7 6.8
S.D. 3.3 2.8
Tenn. 5.0 4.9
Texas 6.2 6.0
Utah 4.8 4.5
Vt. 3.6 3.6
Va. 3.5 3.4
Wash. 6.1 6.3
W.Va. 5.4 5.2
Wis. 5.1 4.6
Wyo. 3.4 3.4
Puerto Rico 11.7 10.9
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