The unemployment rate fell in 45 states in U.S. states in January, a sign that nearly all of the country is benefiting from an improving economy and job market.
The Labor Department said Tuesday that only New York state reported a higher unemployment rate in January than the previous month. Unemployment rates were unchanged in four states.
Nevada had the nation's highest unemployment rate in January, at 12.7 percent, down from 13 percent in the previous month. California and Rhode Island had the next-highest rates, each with 10.9 percent.
Nationwide, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January from 8.5 percent in the previous month. The national rate remained steady at 8.3 percent in February, but state-by-state figures lag by about a month.
North Dakota reported the lowest jobless rate in January, followed by Nebraska at 4 percent and South Dakota at 4.2 percent.
Click here for an interactive map to check out the jobless rate in your state.
