Unemployment rates fall in two-thirds of US states; job gains rise in 38 states

Unemployment rates fell in 34 U.S. states in October, a sign that steady hiring this year has been broadly dispersed through most of the country.

The Labor Department says unemployment rates rose in just 5 states, the fewest since April. Rates were unchanged in 11 states.

Nationwide, employers added 214,000 jobs in October, the ninth straight month of gains above 200,000. That's the longest such stretch since 1995. The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 5.8 percent, a six-year low, from 5.9 percent. Steady economic growth has prompted more companies to add jobs, though the additional hiring hasn't yet boosted wages.

Georgia had the highest unemployment rate, at 7.7 percent, though that was down from 7.9 percent in September. North Dakota continued to have the lowest rate, at 2.8 percent.