US experiencing uneven job growth across states

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies have added jobs for 12 straight months, but the gains across the country have been uneven and a little surprising.

California and Michigan, which each suffered some of the worst job losses during the recession, are adding jobs again. California last month had its single best month for job creation in more than two decades.

Still, six states lost jobs from February 2010 through last month, including Kansas and New Jersey, state that weren't considered troubled spots.

Overall, 44 states added jobs in that stretch, one of the best year over-year showings since the recession ended. And the unemployment rate has fallen in 41 states, the Labor Department said today.

Last month the unemployment rate dropped in 27 states, compared to the previous month. It rose in seven states and stayed the same in 16. That's the most states to report a drop since last June, when many states were still benefiting from census hiring.