Unemployment rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 388 of the 389 metropolitan areas and higher in 1 area, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 49 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 3 areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 154 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 235 areas. The national unemployment rate in January was 4.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 6.8 percent a year earlier.
This news release presents statistics from two monthly programs. The civilian labor force and unemployment data are based on the same concepts and definitions as those used for the national household survey estimates. These data pertain to individuals by where they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. These data pertain to jobs on payrolls defined by where the establishments are located. For more information about the concepts and statistical methodologies used by these two programs, see the Technical Note.
Metropolitan Area Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In January, Elkhart-Goshen, IN, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.6 percent, followed by Columbus, IN, 1.9 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 15.6 percent. A total of 228 areas had January jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 4.4 percent, 151 areas had rates above it, and 10 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in January occurred in Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (-6.0 percentage points). Rates fell over the year by at least 4.0 percentage points in an additional seven areas. Yuma, AZ, recorded the only jobless rate increase (+2.3 percentage points).
Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN, had the lowest jobless rate in January, 2.2 percent, followed by Salt Lake City, UT, 2.4 percent. Cleveland-Elyria, OH, had the highest unemployment rate, 6.0 percent. All 51 large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in Las Vegas-Henderson- Paradise, NV (-6.0 percentage points). The smallest rate decrease occurred in Birmingham-Hoover, AL (-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 January, San Rafael, CA, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 3.1 percent, closely followed by Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL, 3.2 percent. Philadelphia, PA, and Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, MA-NH, had the highest rates among the divisions, 7.0 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively. (See table 2.)
In January, all 38 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA, had the largest rate decline (-5.1 percentage points). The smallest rate declines occurred in Nashua, NH-MA, and Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ (-1.2 percentage points each).
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In January, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 154 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 235 areas. The largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+504,300), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (+464,100), and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+240,300). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI, and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (+13.7 percent each), followed by Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (+13.1 percent). (See table 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 44 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, while employment was essentially unchanged in 7 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV (+13.7 percent), followed by Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, and San Diego-Carlsbad, CA (+9.1 percent each).
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In January, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 29 metropolitan divisions and was essentially unchanged in 9 divisions. The largest over-the-year increase in employment among the metropolitan divisions occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+396,600), followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+357,000), and Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL (+193,800). (See table 4.)
The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA (+9.8 percent), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+8.8 percent), and Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA (+7.2 percent).
_____________ The State Employment and Unemployment news release for February is scheduled to be released on Friday, March 25, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET). The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for February is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
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