Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: November 2005 — 2005-12-28

Unemployment rates were lower in November than a year earlier in 224 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 118 areas, and unchanged in 25 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Eighteen metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 per- cent; 13 of these were in the South. Eight areas--most of which were im- pacted by hurricanes�recorded rates of 10.0 percent or more. The national unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.2 percent a year earlier. In November, 96 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 69 areas a year earlier, while 31 areas posted rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 39 areas in November 2004. Fargo, N.D.- Minn., had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.3 percent. The next lowest rates were recorded in Bismarck, N.D., Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Ark.-Mo., Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Winchester, Va.-W.Va., 2.5 percent each.