METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- DECEMBER 2022
Unemployment rates were lower in December than a year earlier in 244 of the 389 metropolitan areas, higher in 115 areas, and unchanged in 30 areas, the U.S. Bureauof Labor Statistics reported today. A total of 172 areas had jobless rates of lessthan 3.0 percent and 2 areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payrollemployment increased over the year in 81 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 308 areas. The national unemployment rate in December was 3.3 percent,not seasonally adjusted, down from 3.7 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 bywhere they reside. The employment data are from an establishment survey that measuresnonfarm 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 December, Madison, WI, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.6 percent, closely followed by Columbia, MO, 1.7 percent. El Centro, CA, had the highest rate, 14.8 percent. The next highest rate was in Yuma, AZ, 13.7 percent. A total of 227 areas hadDecember jobless rates below the U.S. rate of 3.3 percent, 148 areas had rates above it,and 14 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.
The largest over-the-year unemployment rate decreases in December occurred in Farmington,NM (-2.1 percentage points), and Odessa, TX (-2.0 points). An additional 43 areas hadrate declines between 1.0 percentage point and 1.9 points. Yuma, AZ, had the largest over-the-year rate increase in December (+3.4 percentage points).
Of the 51 metropolitan areas with a 2010 Census population of 1 million or more, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, had the lowest jobless rate in December, 1.9 percent. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV, had the highest rate, 5.4 percent. Forty large areas had over-the-year unemployment rate decreases, nine had increases, and twohad no change. The largest rate declines occurred in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (-1.4 percentage points each). The largestjobless rate increase was in Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN (+0.8 percentage point).
Metropolitan Division Unemployment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Eleven of the most populous metropolitan areas are made up of 38 metropolitandivisions, which are essentially separately identifiable employment centers. In December, Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, FL, had the lowest division unemployment rate, 1.4 percent. Tacoma-Lakewood, WA, had the highest rate among the divisions, 5.3percent.
In December, 34 metropolitan divisions had over-the-year unemployment rate decreasesand 4 had increases. The largest rate decline occurred in Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall,FL (-1.6 percentage points). The largest over-the-year jobless rate increase occurred in Gary, IN (+1.5 percentage points).
Metropolitan Area Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In December, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 81 metropolitanareas and was essentially unchanged in 308 areas. The largest over-the-year employmentincreases occurred in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (+344,400), Dallas-FortWorth-Arlington, TX (+234,700), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (+215,700). The largest over-the-year percentage gains in employment occurred in Charleston-NorthCharleston, SC, and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+5.9 percent each), followed byAtlantic City-Hammonton, NJ (+5.8 percent).
Over the year, nonfarm employment increased in 40 metropolitan areas with a 2010Census population of 1 million or more, while employment was essentially unchanged in11 areas. The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment in these largemetropolitan areas occurred in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+5.9 percent), Jacksonville, FL (+5.7 percent), and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (+5.6percent).
Metropolitan Division Nonfarm Employment (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
In December, nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 22 metropolitandivisions and was essentially unchanged in 16 divisions. The largest over-the-year increases in employment among the metropolitan divisions occurred in New York-JerseyCity-White Plains, NY-NJ (+289,500), Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (+182,100), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (+145,400).
The largest over-the-year percentage increases in employment occurred in Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX (+6.4 percent), San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA (+5.3 percent), and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH (+5.2 percent).
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