Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2009-07-29

Unemployment rates were higher in June than a year earlier in all 372 metropolitan areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Eighteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 9 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in June was 9.7 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 5.7 percent a year earlier. Among the 369 metropolitan areas for which nonfarm payroll data were avail- able, 352 areas reported over-the-year declines in employment, 16 re- ported increases, and 1 had no change. In June, 144 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, up from 6 areas a year earlier, while 62 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, down from 312 areas in June 2008. El Centro, Calif., recorded the highest unemployment rate, 27.5 percent, followed by Yuma, Ariz., 23.1 percent.