California and New Jersey are currently experiencing some of the highest unemployment rates in the U.S., despite the overall national trend of decreasing unemployment. New Jersey’s rate of unemployment has notably grown to 4.7% in November, ranking third highest in America, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is in stark contrast to the national trend which saw the unemployment rate drop to 3.7% due to the addition of 199,000 jobs in sectors such as health care and government. Whilst New Jersey observed a growth of 4,100 jobs in November, with 3,100 of them in the private sector, its unemployment rate slightly increased by 0.1%. California and Nevada’s unemployment rates exceed that of New Jersey, standing at 4.9% and 5.4% respectively. The data paints a picture of the complex and changing nature of employment trends within the country, with each state encountering its own unique challenges when it comes to economic recovery.