Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 383 of the 389 metropolitan areas, higher in 5 areas, and unchanged in 1 area, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 91 areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and 2 areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 99 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 290 areas. The national unemployment rate in July was 3.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.7 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 July, the following seven areas had the lowest unemployment rates, 1.7 percent each: Burlington-South Burlington, VT; Fargo, ND-MN; Logan, UT-ID; Mankato-North Mankato, MN; Portsmouth, NH-ME; Rochester, MN; and Sioux Falls, SD. Yuma, AZ, had the highest rate, 18.4 percent. A total of 200 areas had July jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 3.8 percent, 176 areas had rates above it, and 13 areas had rates equal to that of the nation. (See table 1.)
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decrease in July occurred in El Centro, CA (-5.7 percentage points). Rates fell over the year by at least 4.0 percentage points in an additional six areas. Yuma, AZ, had the largest over-the-year rate increase in July (+1.7 percentage points).
Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, had the lowest jobless rate, 2.0 percent. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, had the highest rate, 5.6 percent, followed by Memphis, TN-MS-AR, 5.4 percent. All 51 large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (-4.3 percentage points). The smallest rate decrease occurred in Indianapolis-Carmel- Anderson, IN (-0.4 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 July, Nashua, NH-MA, and San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA, had the lowest division unemployment rates, 2.0 percent each. Philadelphia, PA, had the highest rate among the divisions, 5.7 percent. (See table 2.)
In July, all 38 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases. Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI, had the largest rate decline (-4.9 percentage points). The smallest rate decline occurred in Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI (-0.9 percentage point).
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In July, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 99 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 290 areas. The largest over-the-year employment increases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+497,500), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+277,600), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (+247,400). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Atlantic City- Hammonton, NJ (+11.8 percent), Athens-Clarke County, GA (+8.3 percent), and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+7.2 percent). (See table 3.)
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 42 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, while employment was essentially unchanged in 9 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment in these large metropolitan areas occurred in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+7.2 percent), followed by Las Vegas- Henderson-Paradise, NV (+6.3 percent), and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (+6.1 percent).
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In July, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 25 metropolitan divisions and was essentially unchanged in 13 divisions. The largest over-the-year increases in employment among the metropolitan divisions occurred in New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ (+392,600), Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (+211,100), and Los Angeles-Long Beach- Glendale, CA (+174,000). (See table 4.)
The largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment occurred in Dallas-Plano- Irving, TX (+7.7 percent), followed by Camden, NJ (+7.1 percent), and San Francisco- Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA (+7.0 percent).
Original source can be found here.
