Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2012-10-03

Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 325 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 40 areas, and unchanged in 7 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Five areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 20 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred seventy-four metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 92 reported decreases, and 6 had no change. The national unemployment rate in August was 8.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 9.1 percent a year earlier. In August, 54 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 99 areas a year earlier, while 123 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, up from 73 areas in August of last year. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., recorded the highest unemployment rates in August 2012, 29.9 percent each. Bismarck, N.D., registered the lowest unemployment rate, 2.6 percent.