Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2018-08-29

Unemployment rates were lower in July than a year earlier in 323 of the 388 metropolitan areas, higher in 41 areas, and unchanged in 24 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Fifty-three areas had jobless rates of less than 3.0 percent and two areas had rates of at least 10.0 percent. Nonfarm payroll employment increased over the year in 59 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 329 areas. The national unemployment rate in July was 4.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 4.6 percent a year earlier. In July, Ames, IA, had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.8 percent. Yuma, AZ, and El Centro, CA, had the highest unemployment rates, 20.9 percent and 19.3 percent, respectively. A total of 190 areas had July jobless rates above the U.S. rate of 4.1 percent, 184 areas had rates below it, and 14 areas had rates equal to that of the nation.