The New England unemployment rate was 7.1 percent in October, little changed from September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

This rate is slightly below both the region’s unemployment rate one year ago when it was 7.2 percent and the national jobless rate, which was little changed from September at 7.3 percent and was 0.6 percentage point lower than in October 2012.

Vermont and New Hampshire recorded significantly lower unemployment rates than the rest of the country at 4.5 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively. They were among 17 states in the country to do so. Rhode Island had a jobless rate significantly higher than the national average at 9.2 percent. It was among nine states and the District of Columbia with unemployment rates measurably higher than the national average. The 24 remaining states registered unemployment rates not appreciably different from that of the nation.

Maine’s jobless rate dropped 0.2 percent over the month. Over the year, no New England state recorded a statistically significant unemployment rate change.

New England is one of nine geographic divisions nationwide. In October, the Pacific division reported the highest jobless rate at 8.2 percent. The West North Central division again registered the lowest unemployment rate, 5.1 percent.