Oct. jobless rates fall in 34 states, plus D.C.

Unemployment rates fell in more than two-thirds of the states last month and 15 saw rates that beat the national average by more than a full percentage point, the Labor Department said Friday.

In a month when the national jobless rate fell to 5.8%, 34 states plus the District of Columbia posted lower unemployment rates than in September, five had increases and 11 had no change.

North Dakota, one of the states enjoying the fruits of the nation's shale-oil boom, continued to lead the nation with the lowest unemployment rate — 2.8% in October. South Dakota was next at 3.3% and Nebraska third at 3.4%.

Georgia's 7.7% was at the other end of the spectrum, the country's highest rate of joblessness. Mississippi and the District of Columbia were next at 7.6% followed by Rhode Island at 7.4%.

California stands out as a state that is among the leaders in both joblessness and job creation. Its 7.3% unemployment rate ranks 47th in the nation, only a shade better than Rhode Island's.

It's making strides though -- in October last year, California had an 8.6% rate and two years earlier, the state was suffering with 10% unemployment.

And it is gaining tens of thousands of jobs a month — 41,500 in October, more than any other state.

Since October 2013, California's employment has increased by 319,500. That's second only to Texas.

In fact, Texas, California, Florida and New York together have added more than 1 million jobs over the past year, the Labor Department reported. Texas is up 421,900 jobs; Florida, 206,900, and New York, 100,800.