According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 47 states registered employment gains at the end of the first quarter 2011. Texas, California and Michigan saw the highest increase in (nonfarm) jobs over last year. The three exceptions to the rule were Kansas, New Jersey, and New Mexico.

The overall national unemployment rate is remaining at 8.8% (13.5 million Americans). Industries showing the most job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, leisure and hospitality, and mining. Manufacturing employment is also continuing to trend up.

Industries with increased employment include professional, business, and technical services, health care, leisure, and hospitality. Manufacturing also continues to trend up, with gains notably in two durable goods industries: fabricated metal products and machinery.

Not surprisingly considering the budgetary contractions, local government employment continues to trend down, with a loss of 416,000 jobs since September 2008.