Unemployment claims nationwide have remained largely stable over the past year. However, state-level changes varied significantly, ranging from a 45% decrease to a 65% increase, according to a Dec. 4 analysis from personal finance website WalletHub.
Alabama saw the largest week-over-week decrease, while North Dakota had the steepest year-over-year drop in claims. In total, 13 states recorded more unemployment claims last week compared to the previous week, while 19 states and Washington, D.C., reported higher claims than the same week in 2024.
WalletHub analyzed the change in initial unemployment insurance claims for the week of Nov. 24 compared to both the week of Nov. 17 and the week of Nov. 25, 2024. Data was sourced from the Labor Department.
Healthcare organizations added 42,800 jobs in September, similar to the industry’s 12-month average of 42,000. At the same time, Becker’s has reported on at least 91 hospitals and health systems that have announced job cuts in 2025, including nine in September, 10 in October and four in November.
10 states with the largest year-over-year decreases in unemployment claims
1. North Dakota (45.68%)
2. Kentucky (33%)
3. Louisiana (30.64%)
4. Idaho (30.63%)
5. New Hampshire (29.55%)
6. Alabama (25.78%)
7. Georgia (25.54%)
8. Michigan (24.25%)
9. Arizona (22.69%)
10. Massachusetts (22.33%)
10 states with the largest year-over-year increases in unemployment claims:
1. Nebraska (65.06%)
2. Virginia (40.50%)
3. Oregon (20.02%)
4. Maine (19.56%)
5. Alaska (18.24%)
6. District of Columbia (18.16%)
7. Hawaii (17.54%)
8. Colorado (14.03%)
9. Connecticut (8.76%)
10. Kansas (7.57%)
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