Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2014-04-09

Unemployment rates were lower in February than a year earlier in 338 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 25 areas, and unchanged in 9 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-nine areas had jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent and 49 areas had rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred eighty-six metropolitan areas had over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 77 had decreases, and 9 had no change. The national unemployment rate in February was 7.0 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 8.1 percent a year earlier. Yuma, Ariz., and El Centro, Calif., had the highest unemployment rates in February, 22.9 percent and 21.0 percent, respectively. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La., had the lowest rate, 2.8 percent. A total of 200 areas had February unemployment rates below the U.S. figure of 7.0 percent, 162 areas had rates above it, and 10 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.