Joblessness: The States

The jobless rate in 39 states and Washington, D.C. fell in June compared to the prior month, as the nationâ??s unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage point to 9.5%, the Labor Department said. Meanwhile, five states saw unemployment rate increases, while the rate was unchanged in six other states.Despite the improvements in the jobless rates, 27 states posted a decline in payroll employment, while 21 notched increases.