Maren Daley

Executive Director

NEWS
For Immediate Release
June 15, 2012

Contact: Michael Ziesch

701.328.2888 mziesch@nd.gov

North Dakotas Unemployment Rate 2.7% for May

Bismarck Job Service North Dakota reported that labor statistics released today show North Dakotas May not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.7 percent. The rate is a 0.4 percentage point decrease from prior month (April 3.1 percent), and 0.5 percentage points lower than a year ago. The national rate in May was 7.9 percent. Michael Ziesch, Labor Market Information co-manager stated, The current months unemployment rate continues to reflect strength in the states labor market. Over the year the labor force has also posted gains, increasing by more than 7,500 persons. North Dakota Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force Data Unemployment Rate Unemployed Employed Labor Force May 2012 2.7% 10,611 381,248 391,859 April 2012 3.1% 12,150 376,214 388,364 May 2011 3.2% 12,207 372,004 384,211

The nations seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.2 percent for May, little changed from prior month (8.1 percent). The current months rate was 0.8 percentage points below last year (9.0 percent). The seasonally adjusted rate for North Dakota was 3.0 percent in May, unchanged over the month (April 3.0 percent). The current months rate is 0.5 percentage points below May 2011 (3.5 percent). The seasonal adjustment process uses a statistical adjustment to accommodate predictable fluctuations between months; such as length of daylight and typical weather. Seasonal adjustment allows for comparison between all months of a year. Seasonally Adjusted Rates North Dakota United States
Notes: 1. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people actively seeking work compared to those in the labor force (employed plus unemployed). 2. Data are subject to revision. 3. The Job Service North Dakota Labor Market Information Center produced these statistics using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics nationallyrequired standard methodology. 4. County and substate areas will be posted 6-20-2012 to the Labor Market Information website: http://www.ndworkforceintelligence.com.

May 2012 3.0% 8.2%

April 2012 3.0% 8.1%

May 2011 3.5% 9.0%

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Job Service North Dakota, PO Box 5507, Bismarck, ND 58506-5507 TTY: 1.800.366.6888 www.jobsnd.com