The jobless rate across the U.S. fell to 8.8% in March, and a Tuesday report from the Labor Department shows improvement has become more widespread.
Some 34 states reported an unemployment rate drop last month from February. The unemployment rate fell to 8.2% from 8.3% in the northeast; to 8.3% from 8.4% in the midwest; to 9.0% from 9.1% in the south; and to 10.7% from 10.8% in the west.
States that have suffered the worst of the housing bust continue to lag behind the nation in job growth, with Nevada, California and Florida still leading the nation with unemployment rates well over 10%, according to the Labor Department’s release of state unemployment. Nevada retained the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 13.2% in March. California and Florida both have unemployment rates above 11%.