Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: February 2006 — 2006-04-05

Unemployment rates were lower in February than a year earlier in 326 of the 367 metropolitan areas, higher in 29 areas, and unchanged in 12 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Eleven metropolitan areas, seven of which were located in Florida, registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent. Ten metropolitan areas, six of which were located in California, recorded rates of 10.0 percent or more. The national unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.8 percent a year earlier. In February, 75 metropolitan areas posted unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 24 areas a year earlier, while 52 areas reported rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 83 areas in February 2005. Honolulu, Hawaii, again registered the lowest jobless rate, 2.2 percent, closely followed by two Florida areas, Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Naples- Marco Island, 2.3 and 2.4 percent, respectively.