Press Release - METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT — APRIL 2016
Unemployment rates were lower in April than a year earlier in 269 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 94 areas, and unchanged in 24 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-five areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and seven areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 327 metropolitan areas, decreased in 54 areas, and was unchanged in 6 areas. The national unemployment rate in April was 4.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.1 percent a year earlier.
Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Ames, Iowa, had the lowest unemployment rate in April, 2.0 percent. El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rate, 20.1 percent. A total of 195 areas had April jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.7 percent, 177 areas had rates above it, and 15 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1 and map 1.)
El Centro, Calif., had the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in April (-4.0 percentage points). Four other areas had rate declines of at least 2.0 percentage points. The largest over-the-year rate increase occurred in Casper, Wyo. (+2.9 percentage points), followed by Odessa, Texas (+2.1 points).
Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Austin-Round Rock, Texas, had the lowest unemployment rate in April, 2.9 percent. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Ill.-Ind.-Wis., had the highest rate among the large areas, 6.2 percent. Thirty-seven large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, nine had increases, and five had no change. The largest rate decreases occurred in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif. (-1.7 percentage points), and Memphis, Tenn.-Miss.-Ark. (-1.6 points). The largest over-the-year rate increases occurred in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas, and Pittsburgh, Pa. (+0.7 percentage point each).
page source http://www.bls.gov/
