PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island and California are now tied for the worst unemployment rate in the country, at 9.8 percent, according to the January rates released Monday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Rhode Island carried that title alone for December -- when its rate of 9.9 percent was higher than the 9.8 percent for both Nevada and California. The latest unemployment statistics, released Monday for January, show Nevada slipping to 9.7 percent.
However, it's difficult to say exactly which state has the worst unemployment rate in the country. That's because when the rates are calculated, there's always a margin of error, which means the rate may not be exactly as reported, according to the bureau.
The rates are calculated with what the federal agency calls "90 percent confidence," but beyond the one rate released for each state, the bureau also releases a range of unemployment rates for each state. Rhode Island's range is from 8.8 percent to 10.8 percent. When considering other states' ranges, any of 16 could actually have the highest unemployment rate in the country.