Press Release - METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT — JUNE 2016
Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 285 of the 387 metropolitan areas, higher in 75 areas, and unchanged in 27 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eight areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and six areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 329 metropolitan areas, decreased in 47 areas, and was unchanged in 11 areas. The national unemployment rate in June was 5.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.5 percent a year earlier.
Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In June, the lowest unemployment rate was in Sioux Falls, S.D., 2.3 percent. El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rate, 23.7 percent. A total of 191 areas had June jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 5.1 percent, 180 areas had rates above it, and 16 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1 and map 1.) Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J., had the largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in June (-1.9 percentage points). Thirty-six other areas had rate declines of at least 1.0 percentage point. The largest over-the-year rate increase occurred in Casper, Wyo. (+2.7 percentage 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 June, 3.3 percent. Las Vegas-HendersonParadise, Nev., had the highest rate among the large areas, 6.9 percent. Forty-two large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, eight had increases, and one had no change. The largest rate decrease occurred in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, Calif. (-1.3 percentage points). The largest over-the-year rate increase occurred in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas (+0.7 percentage point).
Metropolitan Division Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Eleven of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 38 metropolitan divisions, which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers. In June, Nashua, N.H.-Mass., had the 2 lowest unemployment rate among the divisions, 3.1 percent. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, Mich., had the highest division rate, 6.8 percent. (See table 2.) In June, 35 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, 2 had increases, and 1 had no change. The largest rate decline occurred in Los Angeles-Long BeachGlendale, Calif. (-1.7 percentage points). The largest over-the-year rate increase occurred in Tacoma-Lakewood, Wash. (+0.3 percentage point).
page source http://www.bls.gov/
