Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment (Monthly) News Release — 2012-01-04

Unemployment rates were lower in November than a year earlier in 351 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 16 areas, and unchanged in 5 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 25 areas registered rates of less than 5.0 percent. Two hundred thirty-nine metropolitan areas reported over-the-year increases in nonfarm payroll employment, 127 reported decreases, and 6 had no change. The national unemployment rate in November was 8.2 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 9.3 percent a year earlier. In November, 58 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, down from 112 areas a year earlier, while 129 areas posted rates below 7.0 percent, up from 65 areas in November 2010. El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz., recorded the highest unemployment rates in November 2011, 27.2 and 23.7 percent, respectively.