Metropolitan Area Employment And Unemployment: August 2007 — 2007-10-02

Unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 206 of the 369 metropolitan areas, higher in 134 areas, and unchanged in 29 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Twenty-five metropolitan areas registered jobless rates below 3.0 percent, while two areas recorded rates of at least 10.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in August was 4.6 percent, not seasonally ad- justed. In August, 118 metropolitan areas reported unemployment rates below 4.0 percent, up from 109 areas a year earlier, while 17 areas posted rates of at least 7.0 percent, down from 20 areas in August 2006. Idaho Falls, Idaho, again had the lowest jobless rate, 1.6 percent, followed by Coeur d�Alene, Idaho, at 1.8 percent, Billings, Mont., at 1.9 percent, and Boise City-Nampa, Idaho, at 2.0 percent.