15 states with unemployment levels below the national average

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Despite all the talk of a slowing job market, unemployment it fell in most US states in April.

According data From the Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week, 16 states had lower unemployment rates in April compared to last year and 14 states had month-over-month declines. Also, with the exception of Rhode Island, every US state plus the District of Columbia reported more people working this April than last year.

Additionally, 17 states had unemployment rates below the national average of 3.4%.

South Dakota had the lowest level of unemployment in April at 1.9%, followed by Nebraska at 2% and New Hampshire and North Dakota (both at 2.1%).

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Even though Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the country (5.4%), by contrast, it had the largest year-over-year employment increase at 4.2%. New Mexico, which had an unemployment rate slightly above the national average of 3.5%, also had the largest year-over-year decline in unemployment, down 0.8%.

Here are the 15 states where unemployment was the lowest in the nation last month:

1.South Dakota

Unemployment rate: 1.9%

Percent change year over year: 0.0%

Employment increase year over year: 2.5%

2.Nebraska

Unemployment rate: 2%

Percent change year over year: 0.0%

Employment increase year over year: 2.1%

3. New Hampshire

Unemployment rate: 2.1%

Year-over-year percentage change: -0.3%

Employment increase year over year: 2.1%

4.North Dakota

Unemployment rate: 2.1%

Year-over-year percentage change: 0.1%

Employment increase year over year: 2.1%

5.Alabama

Unemployment rate: 2.2%

Year-over-year percentage change: -0.3%

Employment increase year over year: 2%

6. Mountain

Unemployment rate: 2.3%

Year-over-year percentage change: -0.3%

Increase in employment year over year:

7.Utah

Unemployment rate: 2.3%

Year-over-year percentage change: 0.1%

Employment increase year over year: 2.8%

8.Maine

Unemployment rate: 2.4%

Year-over-year percentage change: -0.3%

Employment increase year over year: 1.2%

9.Vermont

Unemployment rate: 2.4%

Year-over-year percentage change: 0.2%

Employment increase year over year: 1.9%

10.Wisconsin

Unemployment rate: 2.4%

Year-over-year percentage change: -0.4%

Employment increase year over year: 1.7%

11.Maryland

Unemployment rate: 2.5%

Year-over-year percentage change: -0.6%

Increase in employment year over year: 1.5%

12. Missouri

Unemployment rate: 2.5%

Year-over-year percentage change: 0.2%

Employment increase year over year: 2.1%

13.Florida

Unemployment rate: 2.6%

Year-over-year percentage change: -0.4%

Employment increase year over year: 3.9%

14.Idaho

Unemployment rate: 2.6%

Year-over-year percentage change: 0.1%

Employment increase year over year: 3.1%

15.Iowa

Unemployment rate: 2.7%

Year-over-year percentage change: 0.4%

Employment increase year over year: 1.7%